Irikefe V. Dafe has been actively involved in environmental conservation since 1992, with a primary focus on river conservation in Nigeria and across Africa, particularly Nigeria's River Ethiope. Over the years, he has expanded his commitment to global environmental movements, collaborating with various organizations and initiatives dedicated to safeguarding natural ecosystems and advancing environmental justice.

Irikefe works with Earth Law Center USA as Africa Program Lead. He is an accredited expert member of the United Nations Harmony with Nature Programme, as well as an active participant in global initiatives such as Global Water Partnerships and International Rivers Foundation (Australia), and he is the facilitator of World Rivers Day in Nigeria. As a Steering Committee member of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature – Africa, Irikefe is at the forefront of advocating for the legal recognition of Nature’s rights, starting with River Ethiope. 

Irikefe is a contributing author to several influential books, including Ecological Law in Practice: Case Studies for a Transformative Approach. He has also initiated and contributed to the creation of several research institutes within Nigerian universities, focusing on sustainable environmental practices and the intersection of law and ecology. His work continues to influence policy, education, and global efforts to integrate ecological law into mainstream environmental governance.

Irikefe has a Master’s in Environmental Policy and Regulation from the Integrated Institute of Environment & Development (IIED) of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun (FUPRE) Delta State, Nigeria and is currently pursuing his PhD research program at the same institute. He is happily married with three children.