Uzor Darlington is an extra-ordinary person, we could say he is a man actively involved in a woman's world. He is the founder of Hold My Hands Women and Youth Development Foundation and the deputy Coordinator YALI Network Face2Face Group in Abuja. Let's meet him.
TGF: Tell us about yourself?
UZOR: I am Uzor Darlington, a passionate young leader from Ebonyi State, South Eastern Nigeria. I have a Bachelor�s degree in History and International Relations from Abia State University 2006-2010. I am the fifth among six boys in my family. I love voluntary service, networking and community development. Also, I�m a young leader and international youth advocate with over five years� experience in gender advocacy, girl child education and youth programs. I am currently serving as the Deputy Coordinator YALI Network Face2Face Group in Abuja.
TGF: What are some of the challenges you faced while building yourself?
UZOR: Growing up in a rural community in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State was a big challenge as a result of lack of basic amenities, lack of opportunities for career development and professional mentorship. Life is not a bed of roses. I had a whole lot of disappointments, but despite these challenges my passion and determination to impact life and make a difference kept me going through it all.
TGF: Is there anything you think could have destroyed your dreams if you had engaged in it?
UZOR: My Dad initially wanted me to study law and become a lawyer, but I opted to study International Relations because of my deep passion for development. Today, I am very happy doing what I know how to do best, working for passion and not for money.
TGF: What are your personal values or principles?
UZOR: Right from my infancy till date I always strive to impact and touch someone�s life and make a difference where ever I find myself in the society. That�s why I adopted the below quote from my role model. �If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.� John Quincy Adams
As a focal point person for the World Youth Foundation, I have assisted in coordinating the youths in Africa towards engaging them in raising voices through social media and offline in supporting issues of the United Nations for ensuring the actions in the implementation of the SDG in Africa. Under this platform I had also assisted in the planning and drafting of plan of actions that led to the successful concluded International Youth Conference on Child Marriage held in May 2016 in Malaysia by the World Youth Foundation.
In 2013, I founded and coordinated an NGO - Hold My Hands Women and Youth Development Foundation, a volunteer-based youth-led organization that aims to unite young people against early child marriage, female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C), teenage pregnancy, and gender based violence and other human rights abuses pertaining to women and girl child in Africa.
In 2016, I became a Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) West Africa Fellow, Member, Technical Working Group on Ending Child Marriage in Nigeria (TWG). This was as a result of my commitment in the youth declaration at the 2016 International Conference on Child Marriage in Malaysia, to implement actions towards ending child marriage in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa. I have several awards which I would attribute to my hard work and commitment to impact the world around me. awards like MDGs Advocacy Project Merit Award, NYSC State Excellence Award, Appreciation Letter from World Youth Foundation for my outstanding contributions during post 2015 My World Global Survey 2015 and my World Outstanding Contribution Certificate from (UN SDGs 2015) for significant service in promoting citizen engagement in the post-2015 discussion 2015.
TGF: What is your view of young people of today?
UZOR: I have a dream that in the next decade there will be a youth revolution across Africa because young people are ready to take over in Nigeria and the world at large. The common element I saw was the generation of young people with passion, drive and desire to invest their talents and skills for the better Africa. The next generation of leaders, who are willing to think, believe, dream, innovate and dare in all their endeavors.
TGF: What�s your advice to young people?
UZOR: My advice for young people today is to read, network, volunteer, and build their skills, and capacity for future career advancement. This is because there are a lot of opportunities in development today,
TGF: What would say are your favorite color, food and craziest thing you've ever done?
UZOR: My favorite color is white, and favorite food is beans and plantain. Also, I love jollof rice and eba as well (hahaha). And the craziest thing I have done is that I still cook for my whole family and carryout other minor house work whenever I visit home as I have been doing right from childhood, cooking is one of my hobbies (smiles).
TGF: Where do you see yourself five years from now?
UZOR: Five years from now, I aspire to work with the United Nations organizations and other relevant NGOs, CSOs and government in ending early child marriage and FGM in Sub-Saharan Africa, as I would view serving my community and country as the highest privilege of all. I am dedicated and passionate in my quest to add value to the greater Africa and global communities.
THANK you so much Uzor Darlington for your time with us.
UZOR: I am Uzor Darlington, a passionate young leader from Ebonyi State, South Eastern Nigeria. I have a Bachelor�s degree in History and International Relations from Abia State University 2006-2010. I am the fifth among six boys in my family. I love voluntary service, networking and community development. Also, I�m a young leader and international youth advocate with over five years� experience in gender advocacy, girl child education and youth programs. I am currently serving as the Deputy Coordinator YALI Network Face2Face Group in Abuja.
TGF: What are some of the challenges you faced while building yourself?
UZOR: Growing up in a rural community in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State was a big challenge as a result of lack of basic amenities, lack of opportunities for career development and professional mentorship. Life is not a bed of roses. I had a whole lot of disappointments, but despite these challenges my passion and determination to impact life and make a difference kept me going through it all.
TGF: Is there anything you think could have destroyed your dreams if you had engaged in it?
UZOR: My Dad initially wanted me to study law and become a lawyer, but I opted to study International Relations because of my deep passion for development. Today, I am very happy doing what I know how to do best, working for passion and not for money.
TGF: What are your personal values or principles?
UZOR: Right from my infancy till date I always strive to impact and touch someone�s life and make a difference where ever I find myself in the society. That�s why I adopted the below quote from my role model. �If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.� John Quincy Adams
TGF: How much impact are you making in your community as a young leader?
UZOR: At present I am the Focal Point Person of World Youth Foundation in Nigeria, an International NGO that engages, educates and empowers young people worldwide on various issues pertaining to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).As a focal point person for the World Youth Foundation, I have assisted in coordinating the youths in Africa towards engaging them in raising voices through social media and offline in supporting issues of the United Nations for ensuring the actions in the implementation of the SDG in Africa. Under this platform I had also assisted in the planning and drafting of plan of actions that led to the successful concluded International Youth Conference on Child Marriage held in May 2016 in Malaysia by the World Youth Foundation.
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| Child Marriage Campaign |
In 2013, I founded and coordinated an NGO - Hold My Hands Women and Youth Development Foundation, a volunteer-based youth-led organization that aims to unite young people against early child marriage, female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C), teenage pregnancy, and gender based violence and other human rights abuses pertaining to women and girl child in Africa.
In 2016, I became a Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) West Africa Fellow, Member, Technical Working Group on Ending Child Marriage in Nigeria (TWG). This was as a result of my commitment in the youth declaration at the 2016 International Conference on Child Marriage in Malaysia, to implement actions towards ending child marriage in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa. I have several awards which I would attribute to my hard work and commitment to impact the world around me. awards like MDGs Advocacy Project Merit Award, NYSC State Excellence Award, Appreciation Letter from World Youth Foundation for my outstanding contributions during post 2015 My World Global Survey 2015 and my World Outstanding Contribution Certificate from (UN SDGs 2015) for significant service in promoting citizen engagement in the post-2015 discussion 2015.
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| African Child Day Event at Durumi Primary School |
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| My borehole project at Government College, Lafia. |
TGF: What is your view of young people of today?
UZOR: I have a dream that in the next decade there will be a youth revolution across Africa because young people are ready to take over in Nigeria and the world at large. The common element I saw was the generation of young people with passion, drive and desire to invest their talents and skills for the better Africa. The next generation of leaders, who are willing to think, believe, dream, innovate and dare in all their endeavors.
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| Child Rights campaign during International Day of Girl Child. |
TGF: What�s your advice to young people?
UZOR: My advice for young people today is to read, network, volunteer, and build their skills, and capacity for future career advancement. This is because there are a lot of opportunities in development today,
TGF: What would say are your favorite color, food and craziest thing you've ever done?
UZOR: My favorite color is white, and favorite food is beans and plantain. Also, I love jollof rice and eba as well (hahaha). And the craziest thing I have done is that I still cook for my whole family and carryout other minor house work whenever I visit home as I have been doing right from childhood, cooking is one of my hobbies (smiles).
TGF: Where do you see yourself five years from now?
UZOR: Five years from now, I aspire to work with the United Nations organizations and other relevant NGOs, CSOs and government in ending early child marriage and FGM in Sub-Saharan Africa, as I would view serving my community and country as the highest privilege of all. I am dedicated and passionate in my quest to add value to the greater Africa and global communities.
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| Mentorship program at ASCON Secondary School. Lagos |
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