Dr. (Mrs.) Felicia Chinwe Mogo (née Agbatekwe), a foremost sustainability advocate and one of Nigeria’s pioneers in the blue economy space, has been re-elected into the United Nations (UN) Group of Experts on Marine Environment and Socio-Economics for the 2026–2030 cycle.
Her re-election, under the African Group, further underscores Nigeria’s rising profile in global marine governance and reflects sustained international confidence in the country’s technical capacity, policy expertise and leadership in ocean and blue economy affairs.
Dr. Mogo remains the first African woman ever elected to the UN Group of Experts on Marine Environment and Socio-Economics, a historic feat she has consistently described as a call to service rather than a symbolic achievement. According to her, the position represents “a unique opportunity to deliver impact, not a vulnerability,” with emphasis on competence, contribution and results-oriented engagement.
Reacting to her re-election, she said: “Nigeria’s voice in global marine and blue economy governance is growing, and my renomination reflects that progress.”
During the third cycle of the UN Regular Process, Dr. Mogo served as Lead Author for two key chapters on Shipping and Deep-Sea Minerals, and as co-lead author on three additional chapters. She also played a significant role in facilitating regional capacity-building programmes, enhancing institutional and technical understanding of marine governance across developing regions.
Her contributions within the UN system have consistently bridged science, policy and socio-economic realities, particularly for coastal and developing states, ensuring that African perspectives are firmly reflected in global marine assessments and reports.
Often described as a “street-and-gown personality,” Dr. Mogo blends grassroots engagement with high-level academic and policy leadership. Through her non-governmental organisation, the African Marine Environment Sustainability Initiative (AFMESI), she mentors emerging professionals, drives capacity building, advances policy advocacy and promotes sustainable ocean governance across Africa. She has also facilitated the enrolment of early-career Nigerians into the UN pool of pre-qualified marine experts.
Academically, she has served as an External Examiner to a PhD candidate at the World Maritime University, Sweden; a Guest Lecturer at Igbinedion University, Nigeria; and a PhD Supervisor at a university in the United States. She is also a member of the Expert Group of the High-Level Panel on Sustainable Ocean Economy at the World Resources Institute (WRI), Washington DC.
Beyond the international arena, Dr. Mogo is widely credited with introducing and mainstreaming the blue economy as a critical sustainability focus in Nigeria. She played a pioneering role in building the capacity of officials of the former Federal Ministry of Transportation and the Federal House Committee on Maritime and Education through local and international programmes. She also coordinated the expanded Partnership Committee on Blue Economy implementation under the Presidency.
She is the lead author of Regulating the Blue Economy of Africa Towards Sustainable Development: The Nigerian Scenario, the first book dedicated to Africa’s blue economy.
Through AFMESI, Dr. Mogo continues to engage with World Bank technical cooperation initiatives, supporting the development and implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy Framework. These efforts align with and complement the mandate of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, helping to translate global commitments into national development outcomes.
Her sustained engagement at the UN level strengthens Nigeria’s capacity to advance sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, develop ports and shipping, promote marine tourism and offshore energy, improve maritime security and regional cooperation in the Gulf of Guinea, leverage climate finance and nature-based solutions, and translate international marine assessments into practical national and regional impact.
Looking ahead, Dr. Mogo has indicated that her renewed mandate will focus on supporting Nigeria and other African countries to effectively utilise UN marine assessment and reporting mechanisms to unlock blue economy opportunities, drive sustainable growth and safeguard ocean health.
