Wild Africa Partners with Ekpenyong to Promote Conservation in Nigeria

Award-winning conservationist, investor, and entrepreneur Nela Duke Ekpenyong will be raising her voice for wildlife as a Wild Africa ambassador, to help increase awareness about Nigeria’s remaining biodiversity and contribute to ongoing efforts to protect iconic species from extinction.

Wild Africa is a conservation communication organisation that inspires the public support and political will to protect Africa’s wildlife and wild spaces forever.

The work is particularly needed in Nigeria, which, despite being home to wildlife such as elephants, lions, and a unique species of gorilla, faces significant threats in the forms of poaching, deforestation, and the illegal wildlife trade. Nigeria has also become a global transit hub for the trafficking of ivory and pangolin scales.

Wild Africa has been working in Nigeria to turn the tide on extinction through public awareness campaigns using radio, TV, newspapers, billboards, and social media. Their work informs people about the threats facing Nigeria’s amazing wildlife while also amplifying wildlife laws and anti-poaching measures that protect them. Their campaign leverages the voices of influential Nigerians like Ekpenyong to raise the profile of conservation in Nigeria.

Ekpenyong has over a decade of experience in entrepreneurship, collaborating with prominent institutions dedicated to large-scale growth and development initiatives in Africa.

She is the co-founder and CEO at LEGA.C Capital, a multi-family office committed to supporting the wealth and advancement of innovators, entrepreneurs, and affluent families.

Additionally, oversees the operations of Obudu Capital, the family office’s climate technology fund and capacity-building programme.

Through Obudu, she channels investments into climate technology projects to support climate adaptation across Africa.

Through her non-profit, Obudu Conservation Centre (OCC), she actively contributes to environmental research and community development efforts in the Obudu Plateau, one of the world’s most bioverse regions.

Nela and her team at OCC have led pioneering research on the Preuss Guenon monkey and have fought against anti-poaching in the region.

She joins other influential Nigerian ambassadors, such as Davido, 2Baba, Mayorkun, Stephanie Linus, and footballer Alex Iwobi, to help shift public attitudes towards wildlife and the environment.

Speaking about her appointment, Ekpeyong said: “Caring for nature has been part of my life’s purpose, and it is an honour to join Wild Africa to continue this shared vision to protect, preserve and increase awareness of our wildlife and wild lands in Africa.”

Wild Africa, through its Nigeria Representative, Festus Iyorah, said, “We are excited to have Nela on board as our latest Nigeria ambassador. She is a passionate conservationist who deeply understands the issues facing Nigeria’s wildlife and forests. She has a proven track record of addressing conservation issues. Her voice, expertise, and experience will contribute massively to protecting Nigeria’s biodiversity for future generations.”