The Brazil Institute invites you to the South Atlantic Security: Actors, Interests & Strategies Conference's PhD Symposium with Ifesinachi Okafor-Yarwood.
Abstract
Fisheries resources play a significance role in the food and nutritional security of the majority of the global population especially those in the developing world. The United Nations recognizes the import of the marine environment, which is why one of the SDGs specifically highlights the need for conserving the ocean resources. Markedly, Goal 14 of the SDG stipulates the need for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources. Similarly, fisheries play a significant role in the lives of the Gulf of Guinea population, serving as food, nutrition and income. Therefore, alongside exploring the human security implications of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, this symposium is aimed at highlighting the impracticality of the ability of the Gulf of Guinea countries to meet some, if not all of the SDGs given the current state of maritime security threats in the region.
Biography
Ifesinachi Okafor-Yarwood is a third-year doctorate student with the African Leadership Centre at King's College London. Her research seeks to explore the human security implications of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Gulf of Guinea and how those impacts might affect the national security of countries in the region, using Nigeria as a case study. Her most recent degree is an M.A. in conflict, security and development from King’s College London. Okafor-Yarwood also has a B.A. in International Relations and Peace and Conflict Studies, from London Metropolitan University.
In addition to her PhD research, Ifesinachi has recently worked as a resource person in the Support to West Africa Fisheries' Sector its Security and its Control (PESCAO), an African Union InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) project funded by the EU as part of their collective efforts to combat, eliminate and prevent IUU fishing. Ifesinachi was also involved with the publication of the 2015/2016 Transparency International Defence and Corruption Index, having worked as an expert reviewer for Guinea-Bissau. She has a couple of publications in peer-reviewed journals, with her latest publication being on the Guinea-Bissau–Senegal maritime boundary dispute, published by marine policy.