EZEILO, Joy Ngozi

State of Origin: Enugu Contact Address: 9, Umuezebi Street, New Haven P.O. Box 2718, Enugu Contact Telephone: 234-42- 252752, 256678 Email Address: [email protected] wacoI(a alpha.linkserve.com joyngezilo(« hotmail.com Joy Ngozi Ezeilo isa brilliant law teacher and an eminent legal luminary with solid training in Nigeria and UK. Her background has positioned her to be reckoned as one ol'the most excellent and versatile in the legal career today inthe Commonwealth and in academia. She is not only a brilliant academic; she is also an experienced Practitioner ol'the profession. She has used her learning, training and opportunity for the good ol'the less privileged by trying to act as spokesperson ol'the voiceless, the defender ol"the oppressed and the marginalized. Her activist roles have been motivated by charity, notion ofhuman rights and dignity. She has been an expert in Gender Studies and promoter ol* respect for all humans irrespective ofclass, gender, religion, political affiliation, etc. She is a model ofeducated and respected African Woman, taking her place in the midst ofmen. with dignity, integrity and honour. She isrespected for her integrity and commitment and decorum with which she serves the people and carries her selfasa lady ofquintessence. She brings joytoall with her efficient and brilliant work attitude. Education • University ofNigeria Nsukka LLB ( Hons.) Queen Mary & Westfield College. University of London LLM Nigeria Law School Lagos BL • Called to the Nigerian Bar Uppsala University Sweden. Diploma in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution International Institute of Human Rights and the International Centre for Universal Human Rights Teaching in Strasbourg. France. Work Experience and Career History • Served the nation in several positions- social, educational, legal, political and administrative, as well as humanitarian. • Currently Senior Lecturer in Law Faculty. University ofNigeria Enugu Campus • Former Hon. Commissioner for WomenAffairs and Social Development. Enugu State. In this position, she brought out a lot ol"progressive ideas, accomplished many projects, and empowered women in several ways. She became an Icon of Hope to many downtrodden women and children and elevated the poor from the dustbin lo eal on the table. She put smiles on faces of millions suffering from deprivation, neglect and abuse. In her position as Commissioner, she demonstrated extraordinary Leadership within the period of her tenure and some of her achievements include- Development of Strategic Framework and Plan of Action for the Ministry 2004 2007. Draft of Adoption Law.started Rural Gender Awareness and Empowerment Programme. Capacity Building on Micro Projects. Publication of Widowhood Law and IEC Materials to provide information to help stop harmful widowhood practices, outreach programmes in three Senatorial Districts of the Slate. Organised a rally to commemorate the International Women's Dayon March 8"' 2004.Symposium/Seminar to mark the international Day of the Family. Held a Multi stakeholders Workshop on the Ministry Plan of Action. Staff/Institutional Capacity Building. Sensitizing Tour to ruralcommunities and LocalGovernment Areas ol'the State, provision of WheelChair to persons with disability in the stale. Reintegration of 17 Teen Pregnant Motherslo their parents/families; strengthening the Legal Unit ol'the Ministry for the provisionof Legal Aid/counselling services. Building the relationships between the Ministry andotherNGO'S/CSO'S International Agenciesin theState. Internet Connectivity/ Website/email addresses among others. • Founder/Executive Director of Women's Aid Collective ( WACOL) an NGO which exists to help women and children who are victims of family and societal violence, .whose sexual and reproductive rights have been denied and who are subjected to physical, mental and /or sexual exploitation, abuseand emotional neglect. She initialed and mobilized resources forconstruction of an ultra modern shelter (safe haven) for battered and displaced women and girls in Enugu. the first ol"its kind in Nigeria. Successfully carried out programmes on Women and Democracy. Sharia . Access to Justice on Women's Rights in Northern Nigeria and Islamic Societies in West Africa. Constitutional and Legislative Advocacy. Grassroots' Civic Education , Violence Against Women, Training of Human Rights Advocates, Legal Aid Programmes, Paralegal, Peer Health Education Training. Adolescents' Reproductive Health fordifferent International Agencies including Office of Transition Initiative. /USAID.Global Rights. Partners forJustice.OpenSociety Initiative for West Africa( OSIWA). Heinrich Boll Foundation. Swedish NGO Foundation forHuman Rights. UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights. US Public Affairs Section (US Embassy) African Women Development Fund (AWDF). MacArthur Foundation. Department for international Development (DFID). Transition Monitoring Group ( TMG). Global Funds for Women, among others. • As Human Rights Lawyer, she takes on Pro Bono cases and currently provides legal assistance and counselling to victims of State Torture under the UN Voluntary Funds for Victims of torture. Awards and Accolades - Local and International • Recipient of British Chevening Scholarship and a Grantee ol'the John I), and Catherine T. Mac/Arthur Foundation- Funds for Leadership Development In 1999. she spent time at the Humanities Research Institute University ofCalifornia. Irvine as Fellow in Residence. • Regents Professor at the University of California Riverside. 2001 • International Visitors Award ol"African Studies Association USA 2001 Community Service Awards from Rotary and Rotract Clubs. Soroptimist International. • Outstanding Performance Award by the Ezeagu Local Government Council Enugu State • The American Biographical Institute and its Board of International Research selected Joy Ezeilo for the women ol'the year award. 2001 • Chieftaincy Title Ada EjiEje Mba 1 of theby Igwe G. Eko of Ihe 2003 • Chieftaincy Title - Ochendo- by Igwe J. Nnaji 2004 for her humanitarian services. Community Services • Involved in the Civil Society Movement in Nigeria particularly for Human Rights. Democracy and Governance. Involved in International Advocacy at the United Nation Levels working closely with various International Partners for Women's Rights, to housing, property, land and inheritance in Africa among other issues. • Pioneered the founding ofmany Organisations including. Women's Aid Collective ( WACOL), Students Association for the Protection of Rights ol"Women and Children, The Society for the Welfare ofWomen Prisoners (SWEWP). as well asfour coalitions. - South East Women Caucus and Partners for Peace Advocacy and Good Governance ( PAPAGG). Enugu State Women Coalition . Network for the Promotion of Women's Rights in Islamic Societies in West Africa ( NPWRIS) Serves on the Board ofsome National and International Organisations as the founding Co-ordinator ol"Women in Nigeria (WIN) Enugu State and has served in executivecapacity at national level. Regular Radio and TV Commentator and Presenter in Nigeria. Widely travelled and attended many national and international conferences and seminars Trainer in Human Rights . Gender Issues. Democracy and Good Governance Consultant to USAID. UNIFEM. UNDP. DFID. UNICEF. UNFPA/Federal Ministry of Health. Open Society Initiative for West Africa ( OSIWA). CODESRIA and MACARTHUR Foundations. Developed Programmes like- Programmes for Campaign on Violence Against Women. Review of Health Laws. Strategic Objectives for Adolescents' Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights. Training Manual for Elected Officials. Legislative Advocacy Manuals. Judges Training Manual on Jurisprudence ofEquality, Care and Support for people living with HIV/AIDS and acountry programme for Gender and Governance • Currently she is working to develop Curriculum for leaching ol* reproductive rights in Nigeria Law Schools. • Federal Delegate to the just concluded National Political Reform Conference (NPRC)representing Women'sGroup. In 1997. she pioneered the teaching of thecourse. Women. Children and the Law at the University ofNigeriaand over 2000 students have offered the course. Publications • Numerous on a number of Human Rights. Social Justice, etc issues. These include TheInfluence ofInternational Human Rights Law on African Municipal Legal Systems. • Customary Laws and Women's Rights in Nigeria • Sharia Implementation in Nigeria • Issues and Challenges on Women's Rights and Access to Justice, Gender, Politics and Law • Legislative Advocacy for Women's Rights: a Practical Guide • Laws and Practices Relating to Women's Inheritance Rights in Nigeria. • Engendering Human Rights: Social, Cultural and Economic Realities in Africa ( co-authored with Professor Obioma Nnaemeka. forthcoming.) Membership of Professional Bodies • Many including Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) • International Federation ofWomen Lawyers (EIDA) • Association of Law Teachers. Hon. Mrs Joy E/.eilo is supremely a mother and a wife She is married lo Dr Augustine Ezento Ezeilo who is also the Enugu Stale Director of Public Health. The marriage is blessed with three children. She enjoys travelling, reading and dancing.