Ugochi Obidiegwu is a Social Development Strategist with a specialty in developing products, programmes and providing policy advisory on pressing development issues affecting young Africans. Her major work pillars are around ensuring child safety, reducing substance abuse in youths and providing strategy for social impact initiatives. She is the author of a child safety storybook series available in English and French, co-creator of an online safety game for children and a developer of social impact apps (The Safety Chic Compass and UProgramme).
Over 7000 children in Nigeria and Ghana have benefitted directly from her Train Them Young Initiative (#2TYI). Her books are self-published on Amazon and have sold in several countries. She also convenes the annual School Safety Summit where stakeholders convene to identify safety challenges to school children and proffer solutions to them. Her engagement with teachers and parents has reached over 3000 individuals. In order to reduce substance abuse, she rolled out a programme where she equips recovered drug users in the Northern part of the country with relevant digital skills to aid smooth reintegration into society.
Ugochi is a 2016 YALI Regional Leadership Centre Fellow, 2018 Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur, 2018 Mandela Washington Fellow and 2018/2019 Regional Advisory Board member of the Fellowship proffering advice to USAID and IREX on matters concerning the Fellowship. In 2020, she was listed alongside Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Angelique Kidjo, Peace Hyde and others on the WeForGood list of 100 women creating a better Africa in commemoration of International Women’s Day. Her work in safety education during the pandemic was featured by the UN OHCHR. Her work has footprints in several countries and in both local and foreign media such as She Leads Africa, YALI Network, Bellanaija, Guardian Nigeria, Plus TV, TVC, News Central, WazobiaFMto mention a few. She is also a TEDx Speaker.
In 2019, she won the 2019 AFRISAFE award in the Shining Star category due to her contributions in the safety industry. She is currently a member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and the World Safety Organisation where she made a presentation on grooming the future workforce at its annual Symposium in Las Vegas. The European Network Education and Training in Occupational Safety and Health (ENETOSH) website profiled her work as good practice for member countries. Ugochi Obidiegwu is committed to introducing innovative programmes and products that enhance social development in young Africans.
