Irikefe V. Dafe has been actively involved in environmental conservation since 1992, with a primary focus on river conservation in Nigeria and across Africa, particularly the River Ethiope in Nigeria. Over the years, he has expanded his commitment to global environmental movements, collaborating with various organizations and initiatives dedicated to safeguarding natural ecosystems and advancing environmental justice.
Currently, Dafe works with the Earth Law Center USA as Africa Programs lead, and is an accredited expert member of the United Nations Harmony with Nature Programme. He is also an active participant in global initiatives such as the Global Water Partnerships, InternationalRivers Foundation (Australia), and is the facilitator of World Rivers Day in Nigeria. As the chair of Steering Committee member of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature – GARN Africa Hub Cape Town South Africa, Dafe is at the forefront of advocating for the legal recognition of nature’s rights starting with River Ethiope in Nigeria.
Dafe is also a coauthor of several influential books, including Ecological Law in Practice: A Case Study of Transformative Approaches. He is also the co-author of the chapter, “Earth Law in Africa" in the 2nd edition of the legal textbook Earth Law: Emerging Ecocentric Law—A Guide for Practitioners (forthcoming, Feb 2026).
Additionally, he has initiated and contributed to the creation of several research institutes within Nigerian universities, focusing on sustainable environmental practices and the intersection of law and ecology.
His work continues to influence policy, education, and global efforts to integrate ecological law into mainstream environmental governance.
Dafe has a master’s in environmental policy and regulation (EPR) from the Integrated Institute of Environment & Development (IIED) of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun (FUPRE) Delta State, Nigeria and is currently pursuing his PhD research program at the same institute. He is happily married with three children.
