Prof. Martins Ekor obtained Bachelor and Master degrees in Pharmacology from the University of Lagos and PhD in Toxicology from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Currently, he is a member of faculty in the Department of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Cape Coast. His main research interests include medicinal plant/natural product pharmacology, drug discovery and toxicology. He has vast experience in evaluating cellular mechanisms of drug action and toxicity and in research involving biochemical and immunological alterations associated with exposure to xenobiotics and identification of useful biomarkers for monitoring health and safety. Prof. Ekor is the immediate past Head of Department of Pharmacology. He continues to serve the University on various committees and boards, and through active contribution to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, demonstration of scholarship through engagement in high quality research, publication and international collaborations to enhance visibility of the University. He has over sixty peer-reviewed scholarly publication in reputable journals to his credit. Prof. Ekor is a member of several prestigious local and international learned bodies including Society of Toxicology, West African Society for Pharmacology, and Convention of Biomedical Research Ghana. He offers professional services as a reviewer to several reputable journals like the European Journal of Pharmacology, Drug Research, Human and Experimental Toxicology, Toxicology and Industrial Health, to mention a few.
The fundamental goal of teaching is to foster learning and active learning fosters critical thinking. My philosophy of teaching, therefore, is predicated on the firm belief that the student who has truly learned is one that is capable of critical thinking and able to apply knowledge acquired in the classroom to improve delivery of healthcare or advance the course of science. I believe learning has taken place when students are capable of thinking outside the box and not just committed to preserving the status quo without improving on existing knowledge. Therefore, imparting good understanding of the science of medicine is fundamental to producing quality health professionals. In teaching, I make conscious effort to encourage critical thinking by helping students to understand and appreciate the scientific basis of therapeutics. As much as possible, I discourage the act of learning pharmacology by rote. Rather, I help students to derive drug actions from first principles by helping them to appreciate how the drugs modulate normal physiological and biochemical processes or modify pathological states. My attitude over the years has been to stimulate students’ interest in learning and make the subject of pharmacology as simple and easy to comprehend as possible in a lively and very interactive atmosphere which encourage students’ participation.
-
Facilitator
Contemporary Issues in Fisheries Management. Fisheries Leadership Short course for Practitioners funded by USAID/Fisheries Recovery Activity Ghana.
-
Presenter
International and Regional Fisheries Institutional Frameworks and Bodies. Workshop on Destabilising Impacts of Distant Water Fishing Vessels (DWFV) in the Gulf of Guinea Yaounde, Cameroon.
-
Guest Speaker
“Promoting Research Excellence for Impact on Marine Conservation in Africa”, Institute for Oceans and Fisheries Online Seminar Series University of British Columbia, Canada.
-
Co-Facilitator
“Grants Proposal Writing Workshop” University for Development Studies.
-
Presenter
“Performance of the Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience”, Country Round Table Workshop Association of African Universities (AAU), Online.
-
Facilitator
“Regional Political Parties Dialogue on Fisheries: Protecting Our Fish, Securing Our Future, Live Engagement on JoyNews TV Centre for National Culture, Cape Coast.
-
Presenter
Professorial Inaugural Lecture on the topic “Our Oceans: Securing Our Common Future through Transformative Research” Medical School Auditorium, University of Cape Coast.
-
Presenter
Africa’s Plastic Revolution: Advancing Global Solutions for Healthy Oceans, T.D. Walter Bean Professorship Public Lecture University of Waterloo, Canada.
-
Presenter
Expanding the Impact of Research on Africa’s Blue Economy. National Consultative Workshop for the Formulation of a National Blue Economy Strategy for Angola Luanda, Angola.
-
Panelist
Regional Steering Committee Workshop for the World Bank West African Coastal Resilience Investment Projects (WACA ReSiP and ReiP2) Banjul, Gambia.
-
Facilitator
Coastal Adaptation to Climate Change. Short-term Training Course funded by USAID Ghana.
-
Co-Discussant
“Expanding the Impact of Blue Economy in Africa” (with Professor Rashid Sumaila) World Bank Headquarters, Washington.
-
Facilitator
Workshop on “Winning Research and Development Grants in a Competitive World” Bolgatanga Technical University, Ghana.
-
Facilitator
Workshop on “Proposal and Grants writing” University of Ghana, Ghana.
-
Speaker
Study Tour on Sustainable Fisheries Management & Leadership University of Rhode Island, United States.
-
Presenter
Vulnerability to Viability (V2V) Ghana Case Study. Bootcamp on moving fisheries from Vulnerability to Viability Puri, Delhi, India.
-
Guest Speaker
Workshop Presentation on “Expanding the Impact of Research on Africa’s Blue Economy in Africa Hohai University, China.
-
Participant
6th ACE Impact Regional Workshop of the World Bank and the Association of African Universities Accra (Online).
-
Panelist
Seaweed (Sargassum) Invasion on the Ghanaian Coasts, Implications for the National Economy and Management Live TV Broadcast, GTV.
-
Guest Speaker
“West African Fisheries”, Workshop by the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) University of Makerere, Kampala, Uganda.
-
Member
Convention of Biomedical Research Ghana
-
Member
Society of Toxicology
-
Member
West African Society for Pharmacology
-
Team member, Contract for services to deliver a short course on Marine Litter under the OCPP
Cefas/UKAID
-
Panel Chair, Reviewed Environmental Impact Statement of PECAN Energies for Offshore Exploration of Oil & Gas
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Ghana, Secondi/Takoradi
-
Team member, Contract for development of a short course on Marine Litter for the West Africa Region
Ocean Country Partnership Program (OCPP) funded by Cefas/UKAID
-
Team member, Contract services to conduct data collection surveys on abandoned lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) in Ghana
Ocean Country Partnership Program (OCPP) funded by Cefas/UKAID
-
Lead Consultant, Contract for the Development of Fishery Courses Syllabi for Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences (DoFAS), University of Liberia
IDA-V3100
-
Panel Chair, Evaluation of Applications for recruitment of Environmental, Social Safeguards Officers for Ghana’s Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI)
World Bank funded West Africa Coastal Areas Management Programme
-
Lead Consultant, Consultancy to review and align national fisheries and aquaculture polices and laws with the PFRS, regional instruments and global best practices for 15 AU Member States
African Union – InterAfrican Bureau of Animal Resources (AU-IBAR)
-
Lead Consultant, Mechanisms to Facilitate the Domestication of Global Instruments and Initiatives (2022)
African Union – InterAfrican Bureau of Animal Resources (AU-IBAR)
-
Lead Consultant, Identification of Issues for SIDS, Development of Draft Strategic Positions for SIDS
African Union – InterAfrican Bureau of Animal Resources (AU-IBAR)
-
Team member, Environmental Systems Analysis of the Avu Lagoon Protected area
Calgary Zoo Foundation
-
Trainer, Conduct Marine Spatial Planning Workshop in Ghana
University of Liverpool
-
Team member, Pre-feasibility study for nature-based intervention for Anlo Beach community in Ghana
Valued at US$32,365.00
-
Team member, Marine Plastic Pollution Study in Liberia
Conservation International
-
Team member, Vulnerability, Adaptation and Resilience in a Changing Climate - WACA -VAR Workshop
World Bank
-
Consultant, Support Development of Multi-sector Resilience Investment Programme for the West Africa Coastal Area Management Program
World Bank
-
Consultant, Issues and Opportunities in the Ghanaian Fishery Sector: Addressing the context, prospects and challenges
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), United Kingdom
-
Consultant, Estimations on renewable energy investments in Ghana
Highland Star Group (HSG) of Companies, Geneva, Switzerland
-
Team Member, Regional Mapping of Experts and Institutions in Coastal management
World Bank
-
Lead Consultant, Review of the Fisheries Act 2002 (act 625) and the Development of Draft Regulations for the conduct of Fisheries Impact Assessments
Ghana Industrial Trawlers Association (GITA) and GOGIG funded by DFID/UK
-
Team member, Environmental baseline survey of water bodies in the Great Consolidated Diamond Ghana Limited (GCDGL) mining concession
AERC Ltd.
-
Team member, Scoping Study on the Dredging of the Whin Estuary in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis
UCC Consultancy Unit/Consolidated Energy Ltd.
-
Team member, Social Ecology of Anlo Beach Wetland of Ghana
Friends of the Nation/IUCN/French Global Environment Facility (GEF)
-
Principal Investigator, Biodiversity Assessment of Urban Wetlands in the Western Region, Ghana with focus on Essei and Butuah Lagoons and the Whin River Estuary
USAID through Friends of the Nation