Uzo Iwobi
Uzo Iwobi | |
---|---|
Born | [1] | 7 February 1969
Nationality | British Nigerian |
Education | University of Nigeria |
Occupation | Lecturer |
Board member of | Race Council Cymru, CLPW |
Spouse |
Andrew Ubaka Iwobi (m. 1991) |
Children | 2[2] (Ifunanyachukwu (Ify) Iwobi and Chuka Iwobi)[3] |
Uzoamaka Linda Iwobi OBE[4] (/ɪˈwoʊbi/ ih-WOH-bee[5] born 7 February 1969)[1] is a British-Nigerian solicitor and equalities practitioner. She is the Specialist Policy Adviser on Equalities to the Welsh Government,[6] an Honorary Fellow at the University of Wales Trinity St David[7] and founder, secretary and former chief executive officer at Race Council Cymru.[7]
Early life in Nigeria
Iwobi was born in Nigeria. She studied at the University of Nigeria between 1987 and 1991 where she graduated with a law degree.[7] She met married Andrew Ubaka Iwobi in 1989 and on 28 October 1991 they were married at the Lagos State Registry in Lagos.[2] She then went on to become a qualified solicitor and barrister, and was called to the Nigerian Bar.[2][8] She then joined Andrew in the UK.
Professional life in Wales
Still only 23, Iwobi arrived in Wales where she had her church wedding on 12 April 1993.[9] When Iwobi arrived in Wales she worked as a Lecturer in Law at the Swansea Law School for 9 years.[8] In 2002 she became the Principal Equality Diversity Chairperson of the African Community Centre in Wales, which she founded.[8][10] Iwobi served with the Police National Diversity team, based at the Home Office in London, in which she was involved in national policy creation on race relations and diversity.[8] By 2007 she had successfully completed the MSc in Business Management at the University of Glamorgan.[7]
In 2006 she was appointed a Commissioner for the Commission for Racial Equality until it merged with the Equality and Human Rights Commission in October 2007. By 2009 she had become Director Of Operations at Ofuobi Equality and Diversity Consultancy.[10] In 2010 she became part-time Chief Executive Office at Race Council Cymru and also passed the Institute of Leadership and Management's Executive Coaching level 7[10] Between 2013 and 2016 Iwobi was a Trustee for the British Red Cross and a year later she became Vice Chairperson of the Black History Association Wales, and a year after that she became Trustee / Governor at the UWC Atlantic College until 2016.[7]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Royal_Welsh_College_of_Music_%26_Drama.jpg/220px-Royal_Welsh_College_of_Music_%26_Drama.jpg)
More recently she became the first International Chair of Diversity at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in November 2018.[11] In January 2019 she became Commissioner to the Centenary Commission on Adult Education at Balliol College until February 2020.[12] She also became Specialist Adviser on Equalities to the Welsh Government also in 2019.[13] She also holds Postgraduate Certificate in Education from University of Wales Swansea[7] and is currently Professor at Practice at University of Wales Trinity Saint David.[citation needed]
Awards
Iwobi has been awarded the following:
- 2006: Swansea Bay Woman of the Year (Community Achievement) Award[14]
- 2008: Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2008 Birthday Honours list for her contributions to community race relations and South Wales Communities.
- 2017: Ethnic Minority Welsh Women’s Achievement Award (EMWWAA) for Management and Leadership[15]
- 2018: 100 list of Black, Brilliant and Welsh Africans by Wales Online[16]
- 2019: Honorary Fellowship by the University of Wales Trinity Saint David[17]
- 2020: WEN (Women’s Equality Network) Wales' 100 Welsh Women list[18]
References
- ^ a b Companies House form 288a(ef) (Appointment of director or secretary) for Bawso Ltd, date of birth 7 February 1969. The form is accessible at the entry for 30 January 2007 New director appointed "Race Council Cymru – Filing History". Companies House. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Married and Loving It!!! feat Uzo and Andrew Iwobi". oneplustheone. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ "'I was bullied so badly in school I still have nightmares about it now I'm in my 20s'". Wales Online. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ "Swansea Business Networking". Business News Wales. 7 September 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ Companies House form IN01 (Appointment to register a company) for Race Council Cymru, full name Uzoamaka Linda Iwobi. The form is accessible at the entry for 28 November 2011 Incorporation "Race Council Cymru – Filing History". Companies House. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ "Uzo Iwobi OBE". www.100welshwomen.wales. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f "Uzo Iwobi OBE - Race Council Cymru (RCC)". Race Council Cymru. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c d "Mrs Uzo Iwobi OBE". Race Council Cymru. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- ^ "New Additions to 100 Welsh Women for International Women's Day 2020". wenwales.org.uk. 4 March 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ a b c "Uzo Linda Iwobi". Companies House. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ "Race Council Cymru's Uzo Iwobi Announced as RWCMD's First International Chair of Diversity". Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
- ^ Oxford, University of. "100 Years and Counting: The Continuing Importance of Adult Education". Oxford University Department for Continuing Education. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ "Appendix A: Commission Membership" (PDF). Centenary Commission. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
- ^ "2nd October – Swansea - Swansea Business Networking". Business News Wales. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ "Ethnic women role models celebrated at Cardiff awards". BBC. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ "Brilliant, Black and Welsh: A celebration of 100 African Caribbean and African Welsh people". Wales Online. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ "Mrs Uzo Iwobi OBE, Chief Executive Officer of Race Council Cymru, awarded UWTSD Honorary Fellowship". University of Wales Trinity Saint David. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ "Uzo Iwobi OBE". WEN Wales. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- Living people
- 1969 births
- Academics of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David
- Nigerian women academics
- Welsh people of Nigerian descent
- Igbo academics
- University of Nigeria alumni
- Alumni of the University of Glamorgan
- Officers of the Order of the British Empire
- Commissioners for Racial Equality
- People from Swansea