Ms. Grace Ihejiamaizu

MBBS (Sydney), FRACS (Paediatric Surgery)

Grace Chinonye Ihejiamaizu is a lecturer in the Department of Social Work, University of Calabar. She is a scholar and educator, who is well experienced in youth and community development issues, social entrepreneurship and education for sustainable development. Ms. Grace Ihejiamaizu was employed into the services of the University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria in 2014 as Graduate Assistant in the Department of Sociology. She joined the Department of Social Work in 2017 and was later upgraded to the rank of Assistant Lecturer in 2018. Grace holds a B.Sc. (Hons) degree in Sociology from the University of Calabar, Nigeria (2011) and was awarded M.Sc. degree in Rural Sociology and Community Development by the University of Uyo, Nigeria in 2018. She was awarded a certificate in Social Entrepreneurship from the University of Connecticut, USA in 2010; a Certificate in Civic Leadership and Engagement from Kansas State University, USA in 2016; and a Certificate in Leading Change from Institute of Continuing Education, University of Cambridge in 2017. She is currently seeking to pursue a PhD in Social Work to enable her fully achieve her career objectives. Since joining the University of Calabar, she has been teaching, mentoring and contributing to the graduation of students and to the fulfillment of the University objectives. She has spoken and facilitated sessions at several local and international conferences including the World Economic Forum in China and South Africa, UNESCO Youth Forum in Paris, OpenCon in Washington D.C. among others. Her passion and dedication to the development of youth has won her several awards including being named one of Google's 12 Brightest Young Minds in 2011 and a Global Changemaker in 2012. She was one of the Honorees for the 2013 Future Awards Africa Young Person of the Year Prize, and a 2016 recipient of the Mandela Washington Fellowship of President Obama's Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). She was named one of 50 Youth Leaders to watch during the CrossRiver@50 celebration. Over the years, Grace has distinguished herself and acquired unique skills and capabilities in leadership, social entrepreneurship and development work. She has demonstrated much commitment to working actively with young people and organizations to generate innovative ideas and to foster positive social change. Grace Ihejiamaizu is well published in the areas of rural and community development, social entrepreneurship, global opportunities and development studies. She has attended and presented papers in local conferences; as well as published articles in local and international journals. In 2018, Grace published her first book: "Go Global with Opportunities" and has authored/coauthored 4 journal articles and book chapters. She is a member of the Nigerian Association of Social Workers. When she is not teaching, you may find her blogging and mentoring young people. Other things she enjoys doing are reading, travelling, writing and watching good movies..