Dr Margaret Ebubedike

Before joining OU, I previously worked at the University of Worcester in the Department of Widening Participation. While there, I held several roles including working as an AimHigher Associate. In this role, I was engaged in raising aspirations and inspiring of young learners across Worcestershire and Herefordshire, who looked to me for support and encouragement. My influence was instrumental in motivating these young learners towards achieving success on their journey through school or college and on to university. I also participated in a project that focused on Evaluation of a Cognitive Behavioural Intervention (ThinkSmart) aimed at Encouraging Young People to Engage in Higher Education.

I have over 15 years professional experience that involves teaching, providing vocational training, knowledge transfer and international education research particularly, in low income contexts. I have significant community and rural development experience and I have engaged in a range of community-based projects in low income contexts using participatory and collaborative approaches. I led a community development project in north-west Nigeria which provided vocational and life-long training to empower young women and girls. Under the auspices of WHO, I participated in a rural development campaign in northern Nigeria to promote the Millennium Development Goals, focusing on creating awareness on preventable maternal mortality and issues related to women reproductive rights

I was also part of the skills acquisition and delivery team of the FGN funded Amnesty program in Niger Delta region of Nigeria, my assignment was strongly focused on, empowering young women and girls through the provision of vocational and lifelong skills. Since 2015, I have been a delegate to the annual sessions of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the UN headquarters in NY, and I have used this platform to engage in discussions around gender equality, women and girls’ empowerment in SSA.