The importance of research and data in various industries can not be overemphasised, as it has been proven to improve decision-making, foster unparalleled innovation, and better risk management. Several key players invest in research and development aimed at driving growth and creating informed policies and effective strategies.

Postdoctoral fellow at the Mind Brain Behaviour interfaculty initiative at Harvard University and Senior Research Consultant, Dr. Chika Ezeugwu is driving massive reforms in the field of research consultancy.

Having previously worked as a senior research consultant with MRL Public Sector Consultant in the United Kingdom and visiting lecturer in research methods and data analysis at Anglia Ruskin University, Dr. Ezeugwu has a wealth of experience in applying in-depth analysis towards tackling critical real-world issues.

Dr. Ezeugwu began his academic journey at Adekunle Ajasin University, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Psychology in 2015, where he began to lay the foundations for an excellent career: “My academic journey began in Adekunle Ajasin University, where I majored in Applied Psychology. After my youth service, I worked at Lagos Business School for two years before joining the University of Cambridge for my MPhil and PhD. My doctoral research focused on the cognitive development of children in low-income countries”.

“Currently, I am a fellow with Mind Brain Behaviour at Harvard University. Each phase of this journey reinforced my passion and curiosity for applied research and shaped my commitment to advancing positive educational outcomes for children in low- and middle-income contexts,” he added.

He believes that Research and Data still hold a commonplace across several industries, because it enables several organisations to identify key trends and generate valuable insights that help them stay ahead of their competitors and improve their overall outcomes.

“I think it is important to accept that yesterday’s solution may be today’s problem. It is this view that makes research an important part of any sector,” he stated.

“This is why top industries spend lots of money on their research and development departments to make informed decisions and stay competitive. It is also key to understand that verbalised approach to critical issues or impulsive decisions may be detrimental to organisational growth and progress.”

At Cambridge University, Dr. Ezeugwu has facilitated Cognitive and Developmental Psychology courses and supervised several undergraduate and graduate projects. He has also published several articles in reputable journals and presented papers in high-ranked conferences, including the African Brain and Cognitive Development Network, and the International Congress on Infant Studies, amongst others. He believes such platforms help to amplify the visibility of research and influence other global researchers to think along his paradigm.

“Publishing and presenting, help amplify the visibility of research. For instance, presenting at a recent conference provided the opportunity to challenge existing theories about child development in Africa. I argued that the metric of cognitive development does not capture the everyday behaviours of the African child.
Ultimately, this idea has garnered attention from global experts. I am currently looking at developing a model of adaptive executive function, which is a self-regulatory cognitive skills that help individuals control their behaviours.”

Dr. Ezeugwu’s work as a co-principal investigator won the 2024-2025 grant worth $5000 from the Cognitive Science Society for broadening participation in Cognitive Science. He has also served as co-convener of the African Student Cambridge Union (ASCU) mentorship programme and co-consultant with the Cambridge African Network for the British Parliament.

Dr. Ezeugwu wants individuals seeking to venture into the world of research consultancy to always remain curious and dare to challenge the existing norms and beliefs, regardless of their origins: “This means that you should check whether what is said is true. A curious mind is always seeking answers. Another thing is to build a strong academic foundation. School is not a scam; it may just be that you need to seek opportunities beyond the classroom. If you read anything, question the premise and think about how this will be true in your context.

“Look for opportunities to network and seek good mentors that will create valuable experiences. When you meet people, talk about your work, that may be the answer they have been seeking. Never think that what you are doing is unimportant, consider what you are doing as the antidote to the world’s problems,” he added.