Ijeoma Obiedelu
MPS Class of 2025, Global Development
- Pronouns: She/her
- Grand challenge: Conflict resolution and climate adaptation; Education, gender equity and poverty reduction in Africa
- Where she considers home: Nigeria
- Connect: iso3 [at] cornell.edu (Email) | LinkedIn | X | Instagram
Ijeoma Seraphie Obiedelu, from Nigeria in West Africa, is a passionate mediator, development professional, and a Christian. She is pursuing a Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Global Development, and she is also an Einaudi Director's Fellow with the Institute of African Development at Cornell. She is interested in exploring the intersections of conflict and climate adaptation, and also education and poverty reduction in Africa. Ijeoma blends her knowledge with a genuine desire for social advancement to build stronger, more equitable communities across Africa.
Prior to attending Cornell, Ijeoma was a UNDP Nigeria Jubilee Fellow working with Building Blocks for Peace Foundation, an NGO where she worked on climate security projects in Northwestern Nigeria aimed at combating food shortages, conflict, and insecurity induced by the impacts of climate change. Moreso, Ijeoma serves as the Executive Director of Forward Falls Initiative, a nonprofit she founded that works to democratize access to tertiary education for students in underserved/ conflict-affected communities in Nigeria.
Ijeoma is currently a ONE Campaign Africa Champion where she joins other pan-African leaders to advocate and hold governments and stakeholders accountable and to increase efforts to mitigate poverty and preventable diseases in Africa. Ijeoma holds a bachelor's degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution. Her commitment to fostering an environment where disputes are resolved constructively is a golden thread that runs through her career. Ijeoma aspires to lead diplomatic efforts that enhance collaboration between governing bodies at all levels, ensuring equity across African countries and the rest of the world.