School of Social & Environmental Sustainability

Dr Nwamaka Okeke-Ogbuafor

  • Lecturer in Global Sustainable Development (School of Social & Environmental Sustainability)

Biography

Nwamaka is a Lecturer in Global Sustainable Development. With over 10 years of experience in development practice across several coastal countries, she has vast experience in utilizing interdisciplinary approach for researching development issues that impact the well-being of coastal fishing communities, including climate change, fisheries mismanagement, poverty, hunger, and coastal malnutrition.

Nwamaka has received several local and international prizes, recognition, and endorsements for her contributions to coastal well-being on the African continent. In 2018, she was endorsed by the British Academy as an Exceptional Promise in Development Studies. Her AXA-funded project, which seeks to integrate wild capture fisheries and aquaculture to reduce hunger and enhance biodiversity, has been endorsed by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) as part of the UN Ocean Decade. Her collaborative project with the African Research Impact Network (ARIN) has continued to advance discourses and development around climate change and locally led adaptation across developing countries.

Nwamaka is CODESRIA’s Diaspora Visiting Fellow to Anchor University, Lagos State, Nigeria. She holds a Ph.D. in development studies and a postgraduate certificate in social science research methods from Newcastle University. She joined the school from Leeds University.

Research interests

  • Fisheries and aquaculture
  • Management of coastal livelihoods
  • Coastal wellbeing
  • Climate change and locally led Adaptation.
  • African rural development

Publications

List by: Type | Date

Jump to: 2026 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021
Number of items: 10.

2026

Okeke-Ogbuafor, Nwamaka ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0703-1005, Sankoh, Salieu and Weekes, Anna (2026) Sierra Leoneans who live off the sea don’t trust farmed fish – but wild fish are in decline. Conversation, February 4. (doi: 10.64628/AAJ.46cefskf3)

2024

Okeke-Ogbuafor, Nwamaka ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0703-1005, Atela, Joanes, Nantongo, Mary Gorret, Aoko, Leah, Tonui, Charles, Rajah, Edward, Osamba, Joshia, Odongo, Josephat Omune, Atchade, Assouhan Jonas and Gray, Tim (2024) Locally led adaptation metrics for Africa: a framework for building resilience in smallholder farming sectors. Frontiers in Climate, 6, 1429462. (doi: 10.3389/fclim.2024.1429462)

Okeke-Ogbuafor, Nwamaka ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0703-1005 and Gray, Tim (2024) Unregulated open access versus regulated open access fishing: analysis of stakeholders perceptions in Sierra Leone. Fishes, 9(7), 282. (doi: 10.3390/fishes9070282)

Okeke-Ogbuafor, Nwamaka ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0703-1005, Gray, Tim, Sankoh, Salieu, Bangura, Abigail Abibatu, Stead, Selina and Rajah, Edward (2024) Is nutrition-sensitive fish farming a panacea for Africa's increasing malnutrition burden? The case of Sierra Leone. Aquaculture, Fish and Fisheries, 4(3), e174. (doi: 10.1002/aff2.174)

Okeke-Ogbuafor, Nwamaka ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0703-1005, Gray, Tim, Kamara, Sheku, Sesay, Edward, Dauda, Abdulai, Stead, Selina M., Robinson, Danielle and Ani, Kelechi Johnmary (2024) Climate-smart fisheries: CO2 emissions reduction and food security are complementary. Marine Policy, 159, 105926. (doi: 10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105926)

2023

Okeke-Ogbuafor, Nwamaka ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0703-1005, Gray, Tim, Ani, Kelechi and Stead, Selina (2023) Proposed solutions to the problems of the Lake Chad fisheries: resilience lessons for Africa? Fishes, 8(2), 64. (doi: 10.3390/fishes8020064)

2022

Okeke-Ogbuafor, Nwamaka ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0703-1005, Taylor, Andrea, Dougill, Andrew, Stead, Selina and Gray, Tim (2022) Alleviating impacts of climate change on fishing communities using weather information to improve fishers’ resilience. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 10, 951245. (doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2022.951245)

2021

Okeke-Ogbuafor, Nwamaka ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0703-1005, Stead, Selina and Gray, Tim (2021) Is inland aquaculture the panacea for Sierra Leone’s decline in marine fish stocks? Marine Policy, 132, 104663. (doi: 10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104663)

Okeke-Ogbuafor, Nwamaka ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0703-1005 and Gray, Tim (2021) Interpreting perceptions about coastal fisheries in Sierra Leone: scapegoats and panaceas. Sustainability, 13(13), 7292. (doi: 10.3390/su13137292)

Okeke-Ogbuafor, Nwamaka ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0703-1005 and Gray, Tim (2021) Is community-based management of small-scale fisheries in Sierra Leone the answer to their problems? World Development Perspectives, 21, 100292. (doi: 10.1016/j.wdp.2021.100292)

This list was generated on Wed Jul 29 08:47:00 2026 BST.
Jump to: Articles
Number of items: 10.

Articles

Okeke-Ogbuafor, Nwamaka ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0703-1005, Sankoh, Salieu and Weekes, Anna (2026) Sierra Leoneans who live off the sea don’t trust farmed fish – but wild fish are in decline. Conversation, February 4. (doi: 10.64628/AAJ.46cefskf3)

Okeke-Ogbuafor, Nwamaka ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0703-1005, Atela, Joanes, Nantongo, Mary Gorret, Aoko, Leah, Tonui, Charles, Rajah, Edward, Osamba, Joshia, Odongo, Josephat Omune, Atchade, Assouhan Jonas and Gray, Tim (2024) Locally led adaptation metrics for Africa: a framework for building resilience in smallholder farming sectors. Frontiers in Climate, 6, 1429462. (doi: 10.3389/fclim.2024.1429462)

Okeke-Ogbuafor, Nwamaka ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0703-1005 and Gray, Tim (2024) Unregulated open access versus regulated open access fishing: analysis of stakeholders perceptions in Sierra Leone. Fishes, 9(7), 282. (doi: 10.3390/fishes9070282)

Okeke-Ogbuafor, Nwamaka ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0703-1005, Gray, Tim, Sankoh, Salieu, Bangura, Abigail Abibatu, Stead, Selina and Rajah, Edward (2024) Is nutrition-sensitive fish farming a panacea for Africa's increasing malnutrition burden? The case of Sierra Leone. Aquaculture, Fish and Fisheries, 4(3), e174. (doi: 10.1002/aff2.174)

Okeke-Ogbuafor, Nwamaka ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0703-1005, Gray, Tim, Kamara, Sheku, Sesay, Edward, Dauda, Abdulai, Stead, Selina M., Robinson, Danielle and Ani, Kelechi Johnmary (2024) Climate-smart fisheries: CO2 emissions reduction and food security are complementary. Marine Policy, 159, 105926. (doi: 10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105926)

Okeke-Ogbuafor, Nwamaka ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0703-1005, Gray, Tim, Ani, Kelechi and Stead, Selina (2023) Proposed solutions to the problems of the Lake Chad fisheries: resilience lessons for Africa? Fishes, 8(2), 64. (doi: 10.3390/fishes8020064)

Okeke-Ogbuafor, Nwamaka ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0703-1005, Taylor, Andrea, Dougill, Andrew, Stead, Selina and Gray, Tim (2022) Alleviating impacts of climate change on fishing communities using weather information to improve fishers’ resilience. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 10, 951245. (doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2022.951245)

Okeke-Ogbuafor, Nwamaka ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0703-1005, Stead, Selina and Gray, Tim (2021) Is inland aquaculture the panacea for Sierra Leone’s decline in marine fish stocks? Marine Policy, 132, 104663. (doi: 10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104663)

Okeke-Ogbuafor, Nwamaka ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0703-1005 and Gray, Tim (2021) Interpreting perceptions about coastal fisheries in Sierra Leone: scapegoats and panaceas. Sustainability, 13(13), 7292. (doi: 10.3390/su13137292)

Okeke-Ogbuafor, Nwamaka ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0703-1005 and Gray, Tim (2021) Is community-based management of small-scale fisheries in Sierra Leone the answer to their problems? World Development Perspectives, 21, 100292. (doi: 10.1016/j.wdp.2021.100292)

This list was generated on Wed Jul 29 08:47:00 2026 BST.

Prior publications

Article

Nwamaka Okeke-Ogbuafor, Tim Gray, Selina Marguerite Stead (2020) Is there a ‘wicked problem’ of small-scale coastal fisheries in Sierra Leone? Marine Policy Nwamaka Okeke-Ogbuafor. ISSN 0308-597X (doi: 10.1016/j.marpol.2019.02.043)

Nwamaka Okeke-Ogbuafor, Tim Gray, Selina Marguerite Stead (2020) The controversial role of foreign fisheries consultants in Sierra Leone's coastal waters Marine Policy Nwamaka Okeke-Ogbuafor. ISSN 0308-597X (doi: 10.1016/j.marpol.2018.12.018)

Nwamaka Okeke‐Ogbuafor, Tim Gray (2020) Food Banks in Glasgow and Ogoniland: A Cross‐country Comparison Journal of International Development Nwamaka Okeke-Ogbuafor. ISSN 1099-1328 (doi: 10.1002/jid.3443)

Nwamaka Okeke-Ogbuafor, Tim Stuart Gray, Selina M. Stead (2018) Perceptions of the existence and causes of structural violence in Ogoni communities, Nigeria Journal of Contemporary African Studies Nwamaka Okeke-Ogbuafor. ISSN 1469-9397 (doi: 10.1080/02589001.2018.1437256)

Nwamaka Okeke-Ogbuafor, Tim Gray, Selina Stead (2017) Two concepts of community in the Niger Delta Journal of Place Management and Development Nwamaka Okeke-Ogbuafor. ISSN 1753-8335 (doi: 10.1108/jpmd-01-2017-0003)

Nwamaka Okeke-Ogbuafor, Tim Gray, Selina Marguerite Stead (2016) A comparative analysis of the role of traditional and modern community-based organizations in promoting community development in Ogoniland, Nigeria Community Development Journal Nwamaka Okeke-Ogbuafor. ISSN 1468-2656 (doi: 10.1093/cdj/bsw018)

Nwamaka A. Okeke-Ogbuafor, Tim S. Gray, Selina M. Stead (2016) Reconciling Traditional Indigenous Governance with Contemporary Approaches to Decision Making in Ogoni Communities in Rivers State, Nigeria Journal of Sustainable Development Nwamaka Okeke-Ogbuafor. ISSN 1913-9063 (doi: 10.5539/jsd.v9n1p55)

Grants

  • Step Change Initiative (IDRC): Locally led Adaptation Metrics for Africa (2023-2027)
  • AXA Research Fund and UNESCO: Integrating aquaculture and wild capture fisheries to avert hunger in Sierra Leone and other parts of Africa (2022-2023)
  • Participatory Approaches England Funds: Co-production of bespoke weather information for inland fishers (2022-2022)
  • Adaptation Research Alliance (ARA): Climate-smart fisheries for Least Developed Countries (2022-2022)

Supervision

I welcome interests from potential doctoral students.

Current PhD Students:

Tariq Mohammad Babdullah ─  Understanding locally led adaptation in Saudi Arabia

Chunjin Chen ─Marine hazards and fisheries sustainability in China

 

 

Additional information

Professional & Learning Societies

  • Fellow, Higher Education Academy
  • Member, Development Studies Association

Nwamaka

Dr Nwamaka Okeke-Ogbuafor on Twitter