Nnaemeka Eke-Okocha, who goes by Phil, just finished his Master of Arts in Conflict Analysis and Dispute Resolution. During his studies, he also spent two years as the PACE graduate assistant.
Phil is originally from the southeastern part of Nigeria, living there until 2019. That year he got a scholarship to study in Italy, where he earned his first degree in Conflict management and Humanitarian action. Since then Phil has traveled across the world, spending time in seven countries including Nepal and Saudi Arabia—though Italy is still his favorite place to travel. On his trips, Phil makes sure to visit the different embassies, part of his goal of becoming a climate security specialist or a food security specialist. Phil enjoys being in the field working directly with people from different countries and backgrounds.
Phil shared some of the challenges of being an international student. Moving to a new country like the United States while being from a certain country or demographic can be “a bit challenging.” There are benefits though. Phil shared “that is what I love, being able to travel the world and engage with people. That is just one of the things that drive me. The more human connections the more I get to learn about their cultures.”
When he is not worrying about climate crises and the threats of international conflicts, Phil is an avid soccer fan. He grew up playing the game and is a supporter of AS Roma. He also follows basketball, especially his favorite team the Oklahoma City Thunder. Phil often follows sports on his phone; because of all his travels, he can be in different time zones but is still able to support his favorite teams. Hopping on a flight somewhere is one of his favorite things to do.
Though Phil’s time as a student at Salisbury University is complete, he will leave a legacy. As a graduate assistant at PACE, Phil thought deeply about how we could promote sustainable development among students and encourage them to think about solutions to local issues. This led to the development of the Global Issues, Local Solutions program. Organized as a weekly lecture series, the program is designed to train students in critical knowledge of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), support the implementation of social impact projects, and connect students with industry leaders. Phil’s work on the program helped him earn the 2024 Outstanding Graduate Student of the Year award from SU.
Phil remains deeply passionate about the SDGs, with a particular focus on SDG 4, which aims to “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. In the fall, Phil will be attending the University of Massachusetts – Boston to further his career and gain a Ph.D. in Global Governance and Human Security.