Olutayo Olusegun

Olusegun Olutayo has over ten years of working experience. Prior to MILE, he worked at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), attached to the directorate of Trade and Customs. As a trade information data analyst, he was part of the EU-ECOWAS/UEMUAO regional sensitisation on policy harmonisation; EPA-ECOWAS negotiations; and AU-ECOWAS trade integration agenda. As the field lead officer of the ECOWAS Trade Fair, he was responsible for conducting the assessment of sectorial and product exhibitions of member states producers and manufacturers. He took part in the TRADESIFT policy training by the UK Department for International Development and in association with the University of Sussex, United Kingdom. He is currently in the process of writing his master’s thesis in international trade policy and trade law with Lund University, Sweden, and a student in the MILE programme. Olutayo’s research interests include trade facilitation in Africa with development agenda; regionalism; trade and energy; and WTO legal architecture. Olutayo is a passionate community leader, and has a great flair for working with people, youth advocacy, managing stakeholder expectations, and championing the virtues of visioning and goal setting. Furthermore, he considers himself an effective team player. He is an avid reader, particularly on socio-economic and geopolitical issues; concepts of leadership and management; business and the effect of technology on various aspects of human interactions. Olutayo’s hobbies include public speaking, travelling and pursuing his fascination with thinking and ideation strategies. Olutayo is driven and self-motivated. Due to his entrepreneurial mind, he runs a business of his own. He is fluent in English, speaks Swahili, and has basic knowledge of French and Portuguese. After the MILE, he aspires to pursue his PhD. In addition, he is passionate about trade growth and the development of Africa as well as the political economy of the inter-African trade agenda.