Conversations with Chidinma Ibemere

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chidinma Ibemere.

Hi Chidinma, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey began when I joined Halima Layeni, the founder of the Life After Abuse Foundation, as a volunteer on 16th November 2016 during one of her outreach programmes. That opportunity birthed my purpose.

My mission was clear, to advocate for closing the gaps in education and to support the marginalised to lead fulfilling lives. What began as awareness outreach in secondary schools gradually evolved. Initially focused on young girls’ education and wellbeing, I soon realised that no one should be left behind, so we expanded to reach everyone, including those in special education settings and internally displaced persons camps. To date, our work has reached over 5,000 people.

As we gained momentum, the outreach grew into a registered foundation. The impact of my work equipped me to become a stakeholder in education conversations in Nigeria. I became a Youth Champion for the ONE Campaign and represented the organisation at the African Union, where I participated in policy conversations and contributed to drafting frameworks to advance educational goals across Africa.

My work opened doors, including a Master’s in Education Leadership and Policy at the University of Bristol, where I was honoured with the Think Big Scholarship and graduated with Distinction. This also led me to Results UK, where, as Parliamentary Officer, I coordinated over 47 parliamentarians on global education advocacy, working directly with senior FCDO officials and ministers to influence UK policy.

Over the years, I have earned recognition from organisations including BBC Media Action, UN Women UK, Oxfam International, the Nigerian Youth SDGs Group, and the ONE Campaign UK.

My passion for education has never wavered. Every role, every recognition, every room I have entered has been in service of the same vision, a world where no one is left behind. I am deeply grateful, and I am just getting started.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The systemic frustrations run deep. The fact that in 2026 we are still making the case for education as a basic human right is, in itself, a struggle.

Education is a matter of justice. Every child, regardless of culture, background, or geography, deserves access to quality and equitable education. Wars, conflicts, and political tensions continue to displace children and disrupt learning. And when governments reduce their investment in education, it feels like three steps forward and ten steps back.

But it is not just about access or availability of resources. We must also invest in teachers. Without valuing and resourcing educators, no meaningful transformation is possible.

On a personal level, when I started, not everyone believed in me. People thought I was doing too much. But I kept going, and today I am glad I showed up regardless.

I am still pushing, and I hope more governments will recognise their responsibility and step up. This is not a fight any one person can win alone.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
When I am not attending to the needs of the Chidinma Ibemere Foundation or advocating for no one to be left behind, I serve as Project Officer for Fast Forward 2030 at UCL’s Institute for Global Prosperity, coordinating a global network of impact entrepreneurs across the UK, Lebanon, Kenya, the UAE, and Ukraine. The programme sits at the intersection of innovation, sustainability, and social change, and it allows me to work with some of the most extraordinary minds tackling the world’s most pressing challenges.

I am also a creative nonfiction writer. I published my debut collection, Abba’s Favourite: 15 Essays on the Rhythms of Life, which explores faith, identity, and the human experience.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I do not believe in luck.

I wholeheartedly acknowledge God, the One who plants vision in our minds and leads us in the way we should go. I am grateful for the privilege of waking up each day with hope, showing up excellently, and continuing to contribute my quota towards achieving purpose. I have also been blessed with great mentors at every level, senior voices who guided me and peers who challenged me, good people, a great network, a wonderful family, and an unquenchable quest for knowledge. These have been instrumental to my journey.

Contact Info:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chidinmaibemere

Image Credits
All pictures were taken with my phone