Clement Umina

Strategic Communications, Conservation & Tourism Specialist

cleminau2@gmail.com | +234-8035584775

Clement Umina is a Nigerian communications and conservation professional with over three decades of experience using storytelling, stakeholder engagement, and creative interpretation and videography to drive impact in biodiversity conservation, ecotourism, and community development.

His career began in 1990/1991 as Photo-Journalist for the World-Wide Fund for Nature [WWF-UK] in Cross River National Park. In 1992 he was absorbed into the Nigerian National Parks Service as Senior Publicity Officer, serving across Cross River National Park, Kainji Lake National Park, and the Service Headquarters in Abuja. This early work grounded him in the realities of Nigeria’s protected areas and the need to communicate conservation to local communities.

After eight years in public service, Clement transitioned to consultancy with Living Earth Foundation UK/Nigeria. Here he documented community forestry and village life across Cross River and Bayelsa States through high-quality photography and video. Beyond documentation, he pioneered grassroots interventions including school conservation clubs, micro-credit schemes, community radio, and community theatre to bring conservation messages closer to the people.

In 2002, his profile in tourism and culture led to his appointment as Location Director for the Cross River State Government to host the Miss World Beauty Pageant photo-shoot. He was subsequently appointed Personal Assistant to the Governor, with a mandate to identify and promote the state’s unique attributes in natural heritage, environment, culture, and tourism.

Clement later served as Communications and Behavioural Change Specialist on the USAID Sustainable Practice in Agriculture for Critical Environment [SPACE] Project, where he designed and implemented publicity strategies, produced conservation flyers for the Mbe Mountains Conservation Association, and developed the “green gold” community radio programme, multi-language jingles in English, Boki, and Pidgin to raise awareness on forest protection. He also consulted for Family Health International on the Strengthening Nigeria’s Response to HIV/AIDS [FH/SNR] Project.

He returned to the Cross River State Government in 2007 as Technical Assistant to the Cross River State Tourism Bureau, providing strategic leadership to the Special Adviser and Managing Director. From there he joined the World Bank/Federal Government Tourism Employment Opportunities [TEMPO] Project as Market Engagement Officer, where he facilitated the development of a Growth Note for Cross River tourism and produced recommendations for restructuring the Tourism Bureau.

At the Cross River State Tourism Bureau, he progressed from Manager, Products Development and Packaging in 2010, to General Manager Operations in 2013, and was appointed Managing Director/CEO in 2016. In these roles he led product development, destination marketing, and policy engagement. He represented Cross River State locally and internationally, and served on the Participatory Governance Assessment [PGA] and the Technical Committee of the UN-REDD+ programme.

Clement holds an OND in Mass Communication, a BA in Theatre Arts, and has completed coursework for an MA in Media Studies. He has also undertaken specialized training in Institutional Management & Leadership, Proposal Development & Fundraising, Creative Cities Events Management, and the REDD+ Academy.

Today, Clement continues to drive innovative solutions at the intersection of people, nature, and economy. Through strategic communications and partnerships with government, NGOs, and communities, he champions initiatives that protect biodiversity, promote sustainable tourism, and improve livelihoods. His work with the Cross River State Forestry Commission and Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture reflects a lifelong commitment to balancing economic development with environmental stewardship.

Author: James Arnott

I am a passionate Conservationist wanting to make a meaningful impact through offering my Development Consulting, Deal Making and Speaker experiences and capabilities to Community Conservation efforts in Africa