Chuks Otioma

Otioma Chuks is a PhD fellow at UNU-MERIT, Maastricht University. Prior to obtaining his Master’s degree from the University of Twente (Netherlands) and joining UNU-MERIT, Chuks worked in consulting and telecommunications industry.  

 His ongoing engagement includes conceptualising and measuring technology-based entrepreneurial activity in Africa using the indices of technology hubs, start-up web presence and online angel (funding) activities.  In a related effort, he explores the links between digitalisation and firm performance through the mechanism of organisational learning in Kenya. His current research aligns with SDG 8: decent work and economic growth, and SDG 9: infrastructure, industrialisation and innovation. His broader interests cover innovation and regional economics.

As part of his contribution to institutional activities at UNU-MERIT, Chuks has been one of the organisers of the annual UNU-MERIT Internal Conference. He has also been engaged in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate courses in our partner faculty, Maastricht University’s School of Business and Economics. He has taught courses in innovation and economic growth, institutions in emerging economies, and the economics of European integration (the logic and impact of EU’s Single Market and regional policies).

Chuks has been involved in the CatChain Project, funded by European Commission’s Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions. CatChain is a multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral knowledge-sharing project focused on understanding the role and challenges of business models in the process of catching-up. CatChain has afforded him the opportunity to be a visiting researcher at Tswane University of Technology (TUT, South Africa) and build network with researchers in South Africa and other African countries.

Selected publications by Chuks Otioma