Rivers State University,
Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Lead Paper Presenter (6)– Governance, Public Policy, Institutional Strengthening, and Social Inclusion
Professor Mina Margret Ogbanga is a trailblazing scholar, a Licensed Social Worker, and a practitioner widely recognized as the first Professor of Social Work and Environmental Sustainability globally. A Ph.D. holder in Sustainable Development Studies, she is a Lancaster UK SSETs Fellow and a Ford Foundation LTF Fellow. Her academic pedigree includes executive training at world-renowned institutions such as Cambridge University, Harvard University, and the ITC-ILO Turin. She currently serves as a Global Associate at the School of Social Work, IUPUI, Indianapolis, bridging the gap between African scholarship and international best practices. With over two decades of experience, Professor Ogbanga is the Founding CEO of the Centre for Development Support Initiatives (CEDSI) Nigeria. Since 1999, she has been a leading voice for extractive justice, driving policy changes and implementing sustainable governance frameworks across Africa. Her work addresses the intersection of human well-being and environmental health, focusing on critical issues such as eco-anxiety, climate resilience, and Green Social Work. She has facilitated stakeholder engagement in over 600 communities, 5,000 schools, and 50 IDP camps, directly influencing legislation to protect vulnerable populations. A prolific author of over 80 learning and development textbooks, Professor Ogbanga is dedicated to democratizing access to social work education.
She is the convener of the NGOs in Extractive Industry Group, the CSO Representative in the National Stakeholders Working Group (NSWG) of NEITI, and a founding member of the Civil Society Strategy Group on SDGs in Nigeria. Her contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including the UN-Habitat Award for mangrove restoration and the EU AID Women in Development Award. As the Creative Director of Club17 Africa, she continues to inspire a new generation of eco-conscious leaders. Professor Ogbanga has served with distinction on the boards of several international institutions, including RINNGOS and Chevron-PIND, where she dedicated a decade of impactful service. She also served as the youngest member of the Economic Advisory Board and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) in Rivers State, earning achievement awards from the British High Commission. Her passion for the field led her to spearhead the establishment of Social Work Departments across higher institutions in Rivers State, earning her the affectionate title, “Mama Social Work.” A woman of many firsts, Professor Ogbanga is an accomplished development activist, policy advocate, academic, and woman of God. Her vision is a world where peace, prosperity, and partnerships are accessible to all.
