Stephen Akpan

Corporate Profile

Born in Nigeria, Steve is a Banker, Administrator, Strategic Thinker, Boardroom Guru, Project Developer and a Community Leader. Steve served as a member of Nigeria’s delegation to the U.N. General Assembly in NY for the adoption of the SDGs framework in 2014 and a Member of Nigeria’s Delegation to the U.N. 2012 for the presentation of Nigeria’s final report on MDGs. Education.

Akpan is the Director of Projects for the Afri Decarbonization Corporation (ADC), where he serves as a member of the ADC-Cross River State Government Steering Committee (Nigeria), and both a Board and Advisory member of ADC (global). More specifically, Steve has worked as a banker for several years under corporate and international banking groups, as well as in the capital market. Steve has extensive work experience with communities in Nigeria through community-based projects under the MDGs & SDG’s.

Akpan advocates for alternative sources of livelihoods through nature-based solutions that would enable communities to sustainably improve on what they are doing for a living. There’s need to educate and equip them on better ways to carry out their farming and ADC’s biochar project and regenerative agriculture would greatly enhance their potentials, increase their yields and increase their life-saving income. This will help them afford medical services and be able to pay school fees for their children. Steve’s engagement skills with communities under the MDGs would enhance ADC’s easy access to communities for purposeful engagements. His knowledge of the baseline exercises, Needs Assessment, Poverty index analysis and Mapping Exercises will benefit ADC’s project implementation in all thematic areas country-wide.

Steve’s extensive knowledge of community-based projects implementation was employed while in his role as Special Adviser to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State (2011-2015) on the Millennium Development Goals, responsible for implementation of MDGs projects in the state. During his tenure in office, Steve provided potable water to households to local communities through the construction of 584 solar powered boreholes. He went on to construct 126 primary health centers to ensure access to medical services by pregnant women and children to improve maternal and child health as well as preventing maternal and infant mortalities. These infrastructure projects involved working closely and engaging with the local communities to ensure ownership. His office also constructed/renovated primary schools in 180 communities to improve access to education and ensure school aged children were able to be in school.

To achieve these outcomes, baseline surveys and needs assessments were conducted to avoid duplication of projects and ensure strategic locations in areas with critical needs. Steve implemented conditional cash transfers to the poorest of the poor, using the national poverty index to contribute to development.

From 2007-2011, Steve worked as Special Assistant to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State on NEPAD (the New Partnership for Africa’s Development) as a member of the National working Committee of the Country Review Mission, Focal Person sub-national Peer Review Committee on Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, Member African Peer Review Panel and Member National Drafting Committee on National Programme of Action (NPoA). Akpan hosted the validation exercises across all the Local governments in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States with state and non-state stakeholders.

Steve holds an honorary doctorate degree in Corporate Governance and Management, Masters degree in Marketing and a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business. Steve is a successful entrepreneur, currently a Board Member at Tropical Mall Development Company Limited, Board Chairman Georgetown Residences Limited and Board Chairman E3 Events & Banquets Limited, a member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Associate Member, International Professional Managers Association (IPMA-UK).