Sonigitu Asibong EKPE

Sonigitu Asibong Ekpe, holds the following academic qualifications:

• National Diploma in Fisheries Technology from Ibrahim Babangida College of Agriculture, Obubra - Nigeria;
• B.Sc., (Hons) Environmental Protection and Resource Management University of Calabar - Nigeria;
• M. Sc, Forestry and Environmental Management, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike – Nigeria;
• Advanced Diploma from the Graduate Institute of International Studies and Development, Geneva – Switzerland. 

I completed a fellowship training of the Global Urban Leaders Program (GULP) at the International School of Urban Sciences, University of Seoul, Seoul – Republic of Korea.

 I work with the Cross River State Ministry of Environment, Calabar - Nigeria as Director (Scientific), and Head, Department of Ecology and Biodiversity where I am responsible for overseeing the delivery of conservation outcomes and partnerships in the technical areas of wildlife, forests, freshwater, coastal and marine. I have over thirty-two years working experience in government, private sector and non-profit organization.

 I am a member of various Commissions of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and as a member of the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) of IUCN, I participated in the constitutive General Assembly for the establishment of the “African Network of Coaches for the Effective Management of Protected Areas (RACEGAP)” and had also concluded and passed the Professional Certificate course on the IUCN Global Standard on Nature-based Solutions.

As a member of the Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative (DOSI), I promote the interests of the developing world, gender-equal perspectives and the voices of youths and other marginalized people who have remained on the periphery of discussions and decisions about Ocean Governance.

My skills are “bridging”– connecting different values, sides, cultures, and interests. I am always happy to meet and make new friends including networks that promote environmental sustainability as I currently work with other stakeholders to establish a Marine Protected Area by the Gulf of Guinea.