Ngozi Patricia Iwere (born August 12, 1956) is a Nigerian social activist and community development specialist.[1][2] She founded and directs the Community Life Project (CLP), an organization that advocates for health education and civic engagement, with a focus on HIV/AIDS prevention and women's reproductive health.[3] She also coordinates the African Feminist Forum (AFF), a network of activists, researchers, and practitioners across Africa.[1] She has been an Ashoka Fellow since 1996.[3]
Ngozi Patricia Iwere | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 12, 1956 Illah, Delta State, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Occupation(s) | Social activist, community development expert, journalist |
| Known for | Founder and executive director of the Community Life Project, coordinator of the African Feminist Forum, Ashoka Fellow |
| Awards | MacArthur Foundation Award for Creative and Effective Institutions (2016) |
| Website | Community Life Project |
Early life and education
Iwere was born on August 12, 1956, in Illah Delta State, Nigeria.[1] She experienced the Nigerian civil war and rural poverty during her childhood.[3] She received a National Certificate in Education from the College of Education, Abraka, Delta State, in 1977.[3] She graduated in French from Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.[3] During her studies, she participated in student activism.[3]
Career
Iwere began her career as a journalist with the African Guardian and Business in Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) magazines, where she covered foreign issues and national crises.[3] She also helped establish the feminist organization in Nigeria, Women in Nigeria (WIN), where she served as the national coordinator.[4]
Iwere began working on HIV/AIDS issues in the late 80s and early 90s, during a time when the disease was prevalent in Africa. She identified the need for a comprehensive approach to health issues that included both men and women.[3] This led to the establishment of the Community Life Project (CLP) in 1992, an organization that works with local networks such as hair salon unions, marketplaces, and schools to distribute prevention and treatment information.[5][3] The CLP and the later established Reclaim Naija Grassroots Movement in 2010 focused on community-based health initiatives, particularly in the areas of HIV/AIDS prevention and women's reproductive health.[6][7][8]
Iwere's approach involves engaging with various community sectors and using existing networks to promote health education and prevention. Her work includes organizing focus groups, educational workshops, and events with different community groups.[3] This model addresses HIV/AIDS and other health concerns identified by the community, such as STDs and family planning.[3] Her community-based HIV/AIDS prevention model has been used in reducing stigma and promoting health-seeking behaviors among communities.[1] Her work has contributed to public health in Nigeria.[3]
Iwere coordinates the African Feminist Forum (AFF), a network of activists, researchers, and practitioners from across Africa.[1] The AFF organizes biennial meetings to discuss African feminism.[9] Iwere's role in the AFF involves bringing together diverse voices to discuss women's rights and empowerment in Africa.[1]
Awards and recognition
In 1996, Iwere became an Ashoka Fellow.[3] In 2016, she received the MacArthur Foundation Award for Creative and Effective Institutions.[10][11][12] Her work has been mentioned in publications and media outlets such as The Guardian, The Nation, and Channels TV.[13]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Olawale, Ronke (November 9, 2019). "GLOBAL FEMINISMS COMPARATIVE CASE STUDIES OF WOMEN'S ACTIVISM AND SCHOLARSHIP". lsa umich. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
- ^ "Expert Group Meeting on "147;The HIV/AIDS Pandemic and its Gender Implications"--Biographical notes". un.org. 17 November 2000. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Iwere, Ngozi. "Ngozi Iwere is the first in Nigeria to develop a model program for HIV/AIDS prevention that targets and involves the entire community instead of focusing on small high-risk target populations. Read more". Ashoka. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
- ^ "Front Matter". African Journal of Reproductive Health / La Revue Africaine de la Santé Reproductive. 8 (3): 1–5. 2004. ISSN 1118-4841. JSTOR 3583388.
- ^ Rolland, Abby (7 May 2018). "Filling a gap: Grassroots engagement in Nigeria". Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ^ Holding the World Together: African Women in Changing Perspective. University of Wisconsin Press. 2019. doi:10.2307/j.ctvfjcxvh.10. ISBN 978-0-299-32110-9. JSTOR j.ctvfjcxvh. S2CID 187830601.
- ^ Hord, Charlotte; Wolf, Merrill (2004). "Breaking the Cycle of Unsafe Abortion in Africa". African Journal of Reproductive Health / La Revue Africaine de la Santé Reproductive. 8 (1): 29–36. doi:10.2307/3583302. hdl:1807/3878. ISSN 1118-4841. JSTOR 3583302. PMID 15487610.
- ^ Sedgh, Gilda; Rossier, Clémentine; Kaboré, Idrissa; Bankole, Akinrinola; Mikulich, Meridith (2011). "Estimating Abortion Incidence in Burkina Faso Using Two Methodologies". Studies in Family Planning. 42 (3): 147–154. doi:10.1111/j.1728-4465.2011.00275.x. ISSN 0039-3665. JSTOR 41310723. PMID 21972666.
- ^ "African Feminist Forum". African Feminist Forum. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- ^ "Community Life Project". MacArthur Foundation. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- ^ Olawale, Ronke (November 9, 2019). "GLOBAL FEMINISMS COMPARATIVE CASE STUDIES OF WOMEN'S ACTIVISM AND SCHOLARSHIP". lsa umich. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
- ^ "Ngozi Iwere". Ashoka. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
- ^ Nigeria, Guardian (11 November 2022). "CLP celebrates 30 years of empowering marginalised and vulnerable grassroots citizens in Nigeria". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 29 December 2023.