Uzoamaka Linda Iwobi (

Companies House Companies House is the executive agency of the company registrars of the United Kingdom, falling under the remit of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. All forms of companies (as permitted by the Companies Act) are ...

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 born 7 February 1969) is a

British-Nigerian British Nigerians are British people of Nigerians, Nigerian descent or Nigerians of British descent. This article is about residents and citizens of Nigerian descent living in Britain. Many Nigerians and their British-born descendants in Britain ...

solicitor and equalities practitioner. She is the former Specialist Policy Adviser on Equalities to the

Welsh Government , image = , caption = , date_established = , country = Wales , address = , leader_title = First Minister () , appointed = First Minister approved by the Senedd, ceremonially appointed ...

, an Honorary Fellow at the University of Wales Trinity St David and founder, secretary and former chief executive officer at Race Council Cymru. She is also Vice President of the

Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama , image_name = Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.jpg , image_size = , motto = , established = 1949 , type = Public , staff = , vice_chancellor = , students = 779 (2017/18) , undergrad ...

Early life in Nigeria

Iwobi was born in

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of G ...

. She studied at the

University of Nigeria The University of Nigeria, commonly referred to as UNN, is a federal university located in Nsukka, Enugu State, Eastern part of Nigeria. Founded by Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1955 and formally opened on 7 October 1960, the University of Nigeria has thr ...

between 1987 and 1991 where she graduated with a law degree. She met married Andrew Ubaka Iwobi in 1989 and on 28 October 1991 they were married at the Lagos State Registry in

Lagos Lagos ( Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national capital of Nigeria until December 1991 f ...

. She then went on to become a qualified solicitor and barrister, and was called to the

Nigerian Bar The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is a non-profit, umbrella professional association of all lawyers admitted to the bar in Nigeria. It is engaged in the promotion and protection of human rights, the rule of law and good governance in Nigeria. T ...

. 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. When Iwobi arrived in Wales she worked as a Lecturer in Law at the Swansea Law School for 9 years. In 2002 she became the Principal Equality Diversity Chairperson of the African Community Centre in Wales, which she founded. 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. By 2007 she had successfully completed the MSc in Business Management at the

University of Glamorgan , image_name = University of Glamorgan arms.png , image_size = 220px , caption = University of Glamorgan coat of arms , motto = Success Through Endeavour , established = , closed = , administrative_staff = , chancellor = John Morris ...

. In 2006 she was appointed a Commissioner for the

Commission for Racial Equality The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) was a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom which aimed to address racial discrimination and promote racial equality. The commission was established in 1976, and disbanded in 2007 when ...

until it merged with the

Equality and Human Rights Commission The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is a non-departmental public body in Great Britain, established by the Equality Act 2006 with effect from 1 October 2007. The Commission has responsibility for the promotion and enforcement of eq ...

in October 2007. By 2009 she had become Director Of Operations at Ofuobi Equality and Diversity Consultancy. In 2010 she became part-time Chief Executive Office at Race Council Cymru and also passed the

Institute of Leadership and Management The Institute of Leadership & Management is a professional membership body for leaders and managers. Its stated mission is to inspire great leadership - everywhere. The institute is a charity registered in England, Wales and Scotland, with its ...

's Executive Coaching level 7. Between 2013 and 2016 Iwobi was a Trustee for the

British Red Cross The British Red Cross Society is the United Kingdom body of the worldwide neutral and impartial humanitarian network the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The society was formed in 1870, and is a registered charity with more ...

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 Atlantic College (formally the United World College of the Atlantic; alternatively styled UWC Atlantic College, UWCAC, or UWCA) is an independent boarding school in the Vale of Glamorgan in south Wales. Founded in 1962, it was the first of ...

until 2016.

More recently she became the first International Chair of Diversity at the

in November 2018. In January 2019 she became Commissioner to the Centenary Commission on Adult Education at

Balliol College Balliol College () is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. One of Oxford's oldest colleges, it was founded around 1263 by John I de Balliol, a landowner from Barnard Castle in County Durham, who provided th ...

until February 2020. She also became Specialist Adviser on Equalities to the

also in 2019. Professor Iwobi holds the

Postgraduate Certificate in Education The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE/PGCertEd) is a one- or two-year higher education course in England, Wales and Northern Ireland which provides training in order to allow graduates to become teachers within maintained schools. In ...

from

University of Wales Swansea , former_names=University College of Swansea, University of Wales Swansea , motto= cy, Gweddw crefft heb ei dawn , mottoeng="Technical skill is bereft without culture" , established=1920 – University College of Swansea 1996 – University of Wa ...

and in May 2022 she was appointed as Vice President of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.

Honours and awards

Iwobi was appointed

Officer of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

(OBE) in the

2008 Birthday Honours The Queen's Birthday Honours 2008 were appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The Birthday Honours are awarded as part of the Queen's Of ...

for services to community race relations and South Wales communities and

Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

(CBE) in the

2022 Birthday Honours The 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours are appointments by some of the 15 Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The Birthday Honours are awarded as p ...

for services to racial equality and championing diversity and inclusion. She has also been awarded the following: *2006: Swansea Bay Woman of the Year (Community Achievement) Award *2017: Ethnic Minority Welsh Women’s Achievement Award (EMWWAA) for Management and Leadership *2018: 100 list of Black, Brilliant and Welsh Africans by

Wales Online Media Wales Ltd. is a publishing company based in Cardiff, Wales. As of 2009 it was owned by Reach plc (formerly known as the Trinity Mirror Group). It was previously known as the Western Mail & Echo Ltd. History The ''Western Mail'' was fo ...

*2019: Honorary Fellowship by the

University of Wales Trinity Saint David The University of Wales Trinity Saint David ( cy, Prifysgol Cymru Y Drindod Dewi Sant) is a multi-campus university with three main campuses in South West Wales, in Carmarthen, Lampeter and Swansea, a fourth campus in London, England, and learning ...

*2019: Awarded Outstanding Developer and Mentor for Young People by NWAMI (North Wales Association of Multicultural Integration) *2020: WEN (Women’s Equality Network) Wales' 100 Welsh Women list *2021: Received a BAPIO Award for her contributions to Equality and Diversity in Wales

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Iwobi, Uzo 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 Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Commissioners for Racial Equality Nigerian emigrants to the United Kingdom