🗳️ APS 2026 CANDIDATE COMPILATION
African Primatological Society Elections 2026
Applications received as of September 10, 2026
Overview: Five candidates have expressed interest in four APS leadership positions. Two candidates are seeking the position of Secretary General; each of the other positions represented has one candidate.
📋 Candidate Register
| No. | Candidate | Country | Institutional affiliation | Position sought |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. Ekwoge Abwe | Cameroon | Cameroon Biodiversity Association / San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance | President |
| 2 | Eunice Nana Akyaa Frimpong | Ghana | West African Primate Conservation Action (WAPCA) | Secretary General |
| 3 | GONE BI Zoro Bertin | Côte d'Ivoire | Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny / Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d'Ivoire | Secretary General |
| 4 | Barry Mariama D. | Côte d'Ivoire | Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d'Ivoire (CSRS) | Treasurer General |
| 5 | Dr. Adeola Oluwakemi Ayoola | Nigeria | Virginia State University | Communication Secretary |
📊 Summary by Position
| Position | Candidates | Names |
|---|---|---|
| President | 1 | Ekwoge Abwe |
| Secretary General | 2 | Eunice Nana Akyaa Frimpong; GONE BI Zoro Bertin |
| Treasurer General | 1 | Barry Mariama D. |
| Communication Secretary | 1 | Dr. Adeola Oluwakemi Ayoola |
| Total | 5 |
👤 Candidate Profiles
1. Ekwoge Abwe
President
- More than 20 years of experience in primate research, conservation, leadership, and mentoring.
- Country Director of the Cameroon Biodiversity Association and Co-lead of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance's African Forest Hub.
- Outgoing APS Secretary General and Chair of the APS 2026 Congress Organizing Committee.
Priorities: African-led research and capacity building; community engagement in conservation; and APS institutional visibility and sustainability.
2. Eunice Nana Akyaa Frimpong
Secretary General
- More than 10 years of experience in administration, executive coordination, stakeholder engagement, partnerships, fundraising, and nonprofit operations.
- Partner Relations and Team Logistics Coordinator at West African Primate Conservation Action.
Priorities: Stronger APS governance and institutional systems; greater member engagement; and stronger partnerships and visibility for African primate conservation.
3. GONE BI Zoro Bertin
Secretary General
- Lecturer-researcher at Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny and Coordinator of the Taï Chimpanzee Project since 2013.
- Former Education Programme Officer with the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation and participant in every APS Congress since 2017.
Priorities: Modernization of governance and archives; timely and transparent statutory administration; and institutional continuity and support for the APS presidency.
4. Barry Mariama D.
Treasurer General
- APS member since its establishment and Project Manager at the Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d'Ivoire.
- Experience in budgeting, expenditure monitoring, financial reporting, project administration, and coordination.
- Managed treasury-related activities for the 2024 APS Congress in South Africa and contributed to the inaugural APS Congress in 2017.
Priorities: Financial transparency and accountability; improved budget planning and resource mobilization; and stronger APS financial governance.
5. Dr. Adeola Oluwakemi Ayoola
Communication Secretary
- Geneticist, primatologist, conservation scientist, educator, and Adjunct Assistant Professor at Virginia State University.
- Experience supporting APS social media, announcements, calls for applications, congress updates, and public communications.
- Extensive international research and scientific communication experience.
Priorities: Strengthening APS's communication structure and digital presence; increasing the visibility of African primatologists and conservation initiatives; and establishing an accessible APS communication archive.