Irekpitan Okukpon obtained her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) in 2005 and Bar Diploma (B. L) in 2006, graduating with a Second Class Upper from both institutions. During her National Youth Service Corps, she worked as an Associate with the private law firm of Kehinde Buraimoh & Co. from 2007 – 2008. She also worked with The New Practice Solicitors (TNP), Ikoyi, Lagos State.

She began her lecturing career at the University of Benin, Edo State in 2010, and was employed by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) as a Research Fellow in August 2012. From 2012-2014, she served as Assistant Tutor in the Advanced Environmental Law and Advanced Research Methods course, and continues on in that capacity at the NIALS Postgraduate School.

In 2009, Ms Okukpon obtained an LL.M in Marine & Environmental Law, graduating with a Distinction from the University of Cape Town (UCT), South Africa. She also obtained a PhD in Environmental Law (with specialization in municipal solid waste (MSW)/electronic waste management) from the same institution in 2015. From 2014-2015, she served as Academic Support Tutor for LL.B students at the Faculty of Law, University of Cape Town, South Africa, and served as guest lecturer, discussing international and national regimes (Nigeria and South Africa), on two occasions at the LLM class in Pollution Law at the Faculty of Law, UCT, South Africa

Irekpitan is an experienced lawyer, researcher, consultant and policy analyst. She has acted in the capacity of Consultant for various organizations, including the Heinrich Boll Foundation, Environmental Law Research Institute, the British Council, and the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC). She has presented at numerous conferences and seminars within and outside Nigeria. She currently serves as Research Fellow (NIALS) and Special Assistant to the Director-General, NIALS.