Nigerian Takes Seat on Global Resource Justice Board

Tijah Bolton-Akpan, a well-known civil society leader and executive director of Policy Alert, has become the Anglophone West Africa representative on the global board of the Resource Justice Network (RJN). This group was previously known as Publish What You Pay.

Mr Bolton-Akpan shared the news of his appointment in a Facebook post on Sunday. He mentioned that he officially began his role last month.

He will join other African representatives, including Aïcha Barry from Guinea, Bekos Askhadra Djimadoum from Chad, and Joyce Nyamukunda from Zimbabwe. Together, they will work on global policies that support transparency, accountability, and fair governance of Africa’s natural and energy resources.

According to Mr Bolton-Akpan, the board aims to make sure that communities where natural resources are taken from get direct benefits from those resources.

“I look forward to interesting times working to help shape global policies and processes that advance fair, accountable, and people-centred governance of Africa’s natural and energy resources, ensuring that the communities from which these resources are extracted are the primary beneficiaries,” he stated.

Mr Bolton-Akpan also thanked the outgoing African representatives on the board for guiding the network during a challenging transition period. He specifically mentioned Vincent Egoro, the previous head of Africa, for his support and encouragement.

The Policy Alert director expressed gratitude to members of the Resource Justice Network across Anglophone West Africa for electing him. He also recognized the backing of his colleagues in the Nigerian chapter.

“I am deeply grateful to members of RJN across Anglophone West Africa for the confidence they reposed in me. I also owe special thanks to colleagues in the Nigeria chapter, whose steadfast support and belief in a resurgent RJN Nigeria made this possible,” he said.

Mr Bolton-Akpan is also the interim chairperson of the Guild of Community Development Advocates in Akwa Ibom State, which is known as the Akwa Ibom Civil Society Organisations Forum.

Over the years, Policy Alert, the organization he leads, has been active in campaigns for fiscal transparency, environmental accountability, and ecological justice in Nigeria’s Niger Delta. They have advocated for reforms in how natural resource revenues are managed and for better protections for oil-producing communities.

The Resource Justice Network is a global coalition of civil society organizations that work to promote transparency, accountability, and fair management of oil, gas, mining, and other natural resources. The network recently changed its name from Publish What You Pay to strengthen its global advocacy on resource justice.