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| Clara Ikekeonwu
Aba, Nigeria
Age: 60-69 |
Nominated as:
Nominated by: |
Vice President
Nigerian Association of University Women |
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| Professional
Field and/or present occupation |
Linguistics
University Professor
and Director of Language Institute of University of Nigeria |
| Skills
and experience (volunteer and professional) that have prepared you to be an IFUW Board Member |
I have served on the IFUW
Status of women Committee (SWC) for two terms 2004-2010.
During this period I have participated in the preparation
of the Programme for Action (PfA) and also assisted in the
review of interdisciplinary seminar papers. In the
year 2007 Shirley Randell, Anne Touwen and I prepared on
behalf of IFUW a UNESCO paper on Civil Society Partnerships.
I have actively participated in varous on-line discussions
on gender issues, MDGs etc. In collaboration with
other academics and professionals I have successfully organized
seminars and workshops - some of them resulting in book
publications. Once of such books wone NAUW a prize
at the IFUW Conference in Perth, Australia, 2004.
I served two terms
as Head of Dept of Linguistics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka,
Nigeria. I am currently the Director of the Institute
for Nigerian Languages in my country. |
| Experience or knowledge of the United Nations, its specialized agencies and their national commissions |
The United Nations (UN) is an international organisation
facillitating cooperationin international law, security,
economic development, social progress, human rights and
world peace. The organisation which came into existence
after World War II in 1945 currently has 192 member states.
Key among her administrative bodies are, the General Assembly,
the Security Council, Economic and Social Council and the
Secretariat. Some of her most commonly known agencies
are UNICEF, UNESCO, WHO, WFP. UN's MDGs are of keen
interest across the globe. |
| Other relevant skills and experience from the last 10 years relevant to this position |
For one to perform effectively as a member of the
IFUW Board, they must have an impressive administrative
record since the Board, strictly speaking, administers/oversees
all the functions of the organisation - the programmes,
projects, advocacy, conferences etc. In all this,
there is a need for careful planning and execution of policies.
In the past 10 years I have gained a wealth of experience
as Head of Department, member of the SWC, convener of seminars
and conferences at different fora. Much of my involvement
in the IFUW work has been volunteer. |
| Goals for this position and the contribution you believe you can personally make if elected or appointed |
If I am elected or appointed
I would aim at:
- contributing
to the ideals/goals of the IFUW especially in the areas
of advocacy, programme development and communications
- assisting in
the reviving of many African affiliates that have for one
reason or the other dropped out of the IFUW, and reinvigorating
the exising affiliates
- bringing to
bear on the organisation's policies and management the awareness
of the beauty of unity and growth in cultural diversity
especially from the African perspective
-strengthening
the bond of friendship among IFUW affiliates as may be approved
by the IFUW board.
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| What do you see as the role of the Board? |
I see the IFUW Board as the "engine house"
of the IFUW. The board must be very conscious of the
priorities of the association in an ever dynamic global
set-up. Education, for instance, which is and has
been a top priority of the IFUW needs the Board to re-invigerate
and re-direct its operational policy based on the realities
of social economic or political developments in various
parts of the world.
It is also important
that the board promote policies that would engender and
sustain the interest of the young members in the association.
The board should be very involved with advocacy. |
Board members serve as committee liaisons or have special responsibilities in the following areas: international advocacy, programme, projects, membership, communications, finance, resolutions, fellowshis and assistance to displaced women graduates.
For which of these roles are you most suited and why? |
If I am elected as a Vice President, I would like
to be actively involved in international advocacy, programme
and communications. My two terms as a member of the
SWC have provided me with the requisite training and experience
to cope effectively with the demands of such engagements.
Again my training and experience as a linguist of many years'
standing grant me significant insight into the nuances of
communication. I am not only fairly comfortable in
the use of ICT facilities but also have a high level of
accessibility to them at my location. |
| Education: |
University
of Nigeria, PhD Linguistics 1986
University of
Manchester, England, MA Linguistics 1980
University of
Nigeria, Nsuka, Nigeria, BA English 1974 |
| Mother
tongue: |
Igbo |
| Ability
to speak English: |
Good |
| Ability
to understand spoken English: |
Excellent |
| Ability
to read English: |
Excellent |
| Ability
to write English: |
Excellent |
| Other
languages: |
Yoruba
- fluent
French - a smattering |
| Computer
skills: |
Considerable experience of sending e-mail and
using the Internet. |
| Internet
Access: |
Regular access to e-mail at home or the office |
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