Benignus Onyebuchi Abasurum holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, International Relations, Human Rights from the University of Padova (2020). He obtained his Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Milan in 2022, with a specialization in Diplomacy and International Organizations. He has also been awarded WIPO Academy certificates for specialized training in the Essentials of Patents and the Madrid System for the International Registration of Trademarks.

Professional Experience
Since 2022, he has built a strong professional profile within the United Nations system. He worked at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) on regulatory cooperation and standardization policies, with a focus on trade facilitation and e-business. In collaboration with other UN experts, he contributed to the UN White Paper on the Single Window Assessment Methodology (SWAM), published in August 2023.

He has also gained experience at the African Union Permanent Delegation to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, where he worked within the Trade and Development Division. In addition, he worked at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) under the Office of the Assistant Director General in the Global Challenges and Partnerships Sector.

He is currently a joint doctoral researcher in Management at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (unibz) and the University of Trento. 

Competences and Areas of Expertise

International Relations and Economic Diplomacy

Regulatory Cooperation and Standardization Policies

Trade and Development

Intellectual Property and Innovation

Sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Project Management