The Two Nigerian Women Leading Community-Focused Change
Episode description
Seun and Chinemerem met at the University of East Anglia, where they are earning advanced degrees in Global Development and Finance & Economics, respectively. Their friendship and collaboration have since grown, but their journey into development and impact began long before grad school — through grassroots projects, nonprofit leadership, and bold work in public policy.
Seun is the founder of The Development School Africa, an initiative focused on educating African youth about sustainable development. Chinemerem co-founded The GEAC Foundation, which empowers children from low-income families in Nigeria to access quality education.
In this episode, they share their inspiring stories, from early career struggles and scholarship rejections to building careers in development, founding impactful initiatives, and navigating life abroad as international students. We explore the highs, the challenges, and their shared vision for empowering young people and shaping policies that truly serve communities.
If you’re passionate about development, education, or leading change, this one’s for you. Tune in now and don’t forget to follow us for more grad school stories.
Co-Hosts: Ebelechukwu Monye & Chukwuebuka Amaji
Guests: Chinemerem Ugwu & Seun Olagunju