Cynthia Umezulike
Cynthia Umezulike | |
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| Born | 15 December |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
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| Website | humanrightsinfashion |
Cynthia Umezulike (Ph.D.), also known as Chisom Umezulike is a U.K.-based Nigerian international human rights lawyer, lecturer, writer, environmental conscious entrepreneur and activist. She is well known for her work advocating for climate sustainability and campaigning against fast fashion production which fuels human rights abuse of garment workers, exploitation, gender based violence and environmental degradation.[1][2]
Umezulike is the founder of the Human Rights in Fashion Centre London which exposes human rights violations in fashion and Re-wear Clothes Walk that aims to bring awareness to the environmental impact of fast fashion and Sustain X, an eco-sustainable concept store.[3] Umezulike is also involved with several other Non-profit organizations dedicated to promoting sustainable and ethical practices in the fashion industry. Umezulike currently serves as the Director of International Human Rights Programmes and a Lecturer in Law and is also a certified Racial Equality, Diversity and Inclusion consultant.[4]
Umezulike, apart from her career as an activist and lawyer, is also known for her fashionable aesthetics and has collaborated with brands such as Nars, Estee Lauder, and Olay. She has been featured in editorials for notable publications including Vogue Italia, Cosmopolitan SA, Elle, Pride Magazine, New African Woman, Elements, Minc Magazine, and others.[5]
Early life and education
Umezulike was born in Ibadan and grew up in Enugu in a Georgian-style house built by the Royal Niger Company for the administrative British Lords of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate. She completed her high school education at the Our Lord's Shepherd International School, where she served as the president of the drama and debate society. During her time there, Umezulike also won the British Council Enugu award in best-written short stories and the WACOL prize in best-recited poetry.
Later, Umezulike went to Igbinedion University Okada, where she acquired a Bachelor's Degree in Law and then attended Nigerian Law School, becoming a barrister and solicitor of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at age 21. Umezulike then enrolled in the Queen Mary, University of London to pursue Masters Degree (LLM) with a specialization in Human Rights Law, and after completing that, she acquired another Masters Degree (LLM) with a specialization in International Law and Criminal Justice from the University of East London.[6]
In February 2020 Umezulike received her Doctorate in International Human Rights Law (Ph.D.) from Birkbeck, University of London.
Career
After Umezulike qualified as barrister and solicitor she became the director of human rights and advocacy along with working as an Associate law lecturer in the UK. Apart from her job as a lecturer, Umezulike also started working as a third sector Head of Racial Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, helping organizations in developing and implementing cultural interventions to drive systemic and cultural change.[7]
She is a member of the UK Human Rights Lawyers Association, International Bar Association, Nigerian Bar Association, JUSTICE Human Rights Network, and National Association of Human Rights Workers (NAHRW). In her diversified career, Umezulike has held key positions as Global Head of Legal and Business Governance at Diamond Hangar, one of Europe's largest private jet aviation organizations. She has also worked as a critical international legal researcher and writer working on the human rights approach to the involuntary treatment of the meaning-centered anorexic body.[8]
Fashion
Umezulike was scouted at age 15 and then she competed locally in Nigeria. She soon became a finalist at Ford Models Awards and participated in the Nigerian Fashion Week. Later Umezulike became a top finalist at Miss Nigeria and Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN). In 2006 Umezulike was also crowned Miss Tourism Lagos and chosen to represent Nigeria at the Miss Bikini World in Taiwan in the same year. Umezulike, in 2014 appeared in UK Vogue, Elle, and Harpers Bazaar in a bag campaign alongside Britain's and Ireland's Next Top Model Lauren Lambert.[9]
Umezulike represented Nigeria at the Miss Commonwealth World pageant in Milton Keynes, where she competed against 56 other delegates from all across the world. She has worked as an international model in London, Paris, New York, and Miami since then, walking the runways of Paris Fashion Week, London Fashion Week, Vauxhall Fashion Scout, and African Fashion Week London, among others. She was also three times nominated for Best Female Model of the Year at the British Entertainment, Film, Fashion, and Television Awards during her modeling career.
Philanthropy
Umezulike is a well-known activist who has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the urgent need for social, economic, and humanitarian rights for those living in underprivileged places. She is the Co-Chair of the Hon. Justice Innocent Umezulike Foundation, as well as the Hon. Justice Innocent Umezulike Law Library and Legal Research Center, which has provided over 100 law school degree scholarships to students in South-Eastern Nigeria. A Covid-19 Response Fund, founded in 2020, allows the organization to provide critical humanitarian assistance to disadvantaged people in Nigeria's remote villages.[10]
Books
- Hon. Justice Hon. Justice Innocent Umezulike: A Chronicle of Leading Judgements Volume 1, Co-Editor, published in 2019
- Redrawing the Values of Liberal Feminism in the Modern Age, socio-legal book
- An Ogbanje Story, short story
Personal life
Umezulike’s father, Hon. Justice Innocent Azubike Umezulike OFR, FCIARB.FIIAN was South-Eastern Nigeria's longest-serving Chief Judge.
In the media
References
- ↑ "No rules for cross-sector engagement — Dr. Umezulike; 4 law degrees, lecturer, human rights activist, fashion icon". Vanguard News. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ↑ "Doctoral students compete in Birkbeck's first Three Minute Thesis competition". Birkbeck, University of London. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ↑ "Come Dine with Me, 2:30pm on 4Seven". tv24.co.uk. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ↑ "Nigeria has lost the generation of seasoned, intellectual jurists –Cynthia Umezulike, lawyer/daughter of late Justice Umezulik". The Sun Nigeria. 15 September 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ↑ "My father taught me to love unconditionally — Young UCL don, Cynthia Umezulike - Opera News". ng.opera.news. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ↑ Gardner, Tom (6 November 2011). "E16 model - Barriers to black success will not hold me back". Newham Recorder. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ↑ "mission". crajournal.com. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ↑ "Cynthia Chisom Umezulike: set for higher heights". trumpetmediagroup.com. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ↑ "I WANT TO GIVE HOPE TO THE AFRICAN CHILD — CYNTHIA, BEAUTY QUEEN". Nigerian Voice. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ↑ "Umezulike Foundation expands COVID-19 response, reaches out to vulnerable families". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 3 October 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2021.