Institute of Pollution Studies

Dr. Mary Princewill Ekanim

Ag. Director, Institute of Pollution Studies
Postgraduate Coordinator, Marine Biology Department

Email:
maryekanim.ips@aksu.edu.ng
maryekanim@aksu.edu.ng
maryekanim@yahoo.com

ResearchGate:
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Research Interest: Pollution Management and Renewable Energy

Biography

Dr. (Mrs.) Mary Princewill Ekanim obtained her Ph.D. degree in Environmental Management, with bias in Environmental Chemistry, from the Institute of Geosciences and Space Technology, Rivers State University, formerly known as Rivers State University of Science and Technology, in 2012.

She obtained a M.Sc. degree in Applied Chemistry from the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, in 2005, and a B.Sc. (Ed.) Chemistry degree from the University of Calabar, Cross River State, in 1989. She obtained her O’Level certificate in June 1980 from the prestigious Union Secondary School, Ibiaku, now in Ibiono Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Before gaining employment into Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU), she attended courses in Quality and Environmental Management Systems, as well as Health, Safety and Environment (HSE). She worked as a Quality Management Systems Auditor in Cledop West Africa, an oil servicing company in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

She is an ISO Certified Auditor for both Quality and Environmental Management System, specifically ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004.

Recently, she also acquired a certificate in Cyber Security from the Virtual Institute for Capacity Building in Higher Education, an eleven-week intensive course organized by TETFUND, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), and the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC).

She currently has 14 publications in both local and international journals, mainly in Pollution Control and Management. She has also attended conferences and presented papers both in Nigeria and outside Nigeria.

In some of her research, she has been able to produce paper, biogas, fish feeds, and remove excess nutrients from polluted water using Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), an invasive plant in the aquatic environment.

Her current research interest focuses on plastic pollution, especially in the marine environment, considering its contribution to climate change and its effects on marine life and the livelihood of coastal dwellers whose major business activities are linked to the marine environment.

She has been able to produce combustible gas from waste plastics. Currently, she is working on encapsulating waste plastics in order to prevent them from entering the marine environment.

She is currently the Ag. Director of the Institute of Pollution Studies.

About the Institute of Pollution Studies

The Institute of Pollution Studies (IPS) is an academic and professional institute dedicated to the study, management, and control of pollution and its impacts on the environment, human health, and sustainable development.

The Institute focuses on generating knowledge, building capacity, and providing practical solutions to environmental pollution challenges, particularly those affecting air, water, soil, and ecosystems.

IPS engages in teaching, research, training, and consultancy in areas such as environmental management, pollution monitoring and control, waste management, environmental impact assessment (EIA), oil and gas related pollution, toxicology, climate change, and environmental health and safety.

Through its academic programmes, including postgraduate programmes, professional courses, and short-term certifications, the Institute equips students and practitioners with relevant technical and regulatory skills.

The Institute also supports policy development and regulatory compliance by collaborating with government agencies, industries, communities, and international organizations. It conducts baseline studies, environmental audits, remediation assessments, and capacity-building programmes aligned with national and international environmental standards.

In addition, the Institute of Pollution Studies promotes sustainable environmental practices through advocacy, public awareness, and applied research aimed at pollution prevention and environmental protection.

By integrating science, policy, and practice, the Institute plays a vital role in addressing contemporary pollution challenges and contributing to environmental sustainability and socio-economic development.

The Institute of Pollution Studies (IPS) in Akwa Ibom State University will serve as a centre of excellence in environmental research and education, aiming to generate scientific knowledge, inform policy and practice, contribute to sustainable environmental protection and development, and generate revenue in line with the mandate of Akwa Ibom State University.