China’s development investments across the African continent have had global ramifications. Inspired by the ability to use language to build bridges, NCUSCR staffer Lizabeth Bamgboye discusses her experience studying China and its impact on Africa and the wider African diaspora. As a Nigerian-American Lizabeth reflects on how different countries learn about China and what that means for diplomatic ties.
Lizabeth Bamgboye joined us on February 5, 2026 to share how her experiences shape her potential to work in the development space with a focus on China-Africa collaboration.
Lizabeth Bamgboye
Lizabeth Oreoluwa Bamgboye is the 2025–2026 Schwarzman Scholar Fellow at the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and a member of the 9th cohort of Schwarzman Scholars. From analyzing aid and development in the Sahel of Africa to studying student experiences at her alma mater, UNC-Chapel Hill, Bamgboye has applied her data science and research skills to a diverse range of global and local contexts. Her commitment to community organizing, both at home and internationally, has led her to work with organizations such as the Garden of Hope Foundation in Taiwan and the Urban League of Southern Connecticut.
Liz has earned her master’s in Global Affairs from Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University, where she wrote her capstone thesis on triangular development cooperation between China, the African Union, and the Caribbean Community. During her undergraduate career at UNC-Chapel Hill, she studied Political Science and Global Studies with a concentration on East Asia and Mandarin Chinese.