Eloho Bertha Ogbimi Named Nigeria’s Most Notable Female Advocate Ambassador
By Genesis Ogiri | Abuja, Nigeria
In an era where global conversations around equity, gender justice, and sustainable development are gaining momentum, few individuals personify these ideals as powerfully as Ambassador Eloho Bertha Ogbimi. On a monumental evening at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, Mrs. Bertha was conferred with the Ambassadorial Award as Nigeria’s Most Notable Female Advocate by the Nigeria Peace Advocate Network, a testament to her tireless service to humanity.
This accolade comes as a resounding affirmation of Amb. Bertha’s outstanding leadership in driving grassroots empowerment, advocating for the girl-child, and shaping policy dialogues around gender, peace, and development in Nigeria and beyond.
The ceremony, held during the Network’s Annual Recognition , was attended by a constellation of dignitaries , ambassadors, development experts, civil society leaders, and policymakers, who gathered to celebrate excellence in humanitarian leadership.
But for Ambassador Bertha, the honour represents more than personal success—it symbolizes a growing movement that seeks to uplift women and girls, strengthen grassroots communities, and drive peace and security through inclusive governance
Ambassador Bertha’s journey began in Delta State, Nigeria, where she was raised in a community that valued education, empathy, and responsibility. From an early age, she witnessed the struggles faced by women and girls who lacked access to basic education and healthcare.
Motivated by these early experiences, she pursued a career in the development and humanitarian sector, combining academic excellence with community activism. Her educational background in social work, gender policy, and peacebuilding laid the foundation for what would become a globally respected career.
In response to the pressing challenges facing marginalized populations in Nigeria, Dr. Bertha founded the Uja Family Foundation (UFF)—a community-based, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the welfare and empowerment of vulnerable groups, particularly women and children.
While speaking with Newsway Media Exclusive, Ambassador Bertha reaffirmed the driving force behind her work: “My major objective is to get youth off the streets and make them productive and useful to the society,” she stated passionately. This mission underpins much of her work, from facilitating educational scholarships and leadership training for underserved youth, to launching vocational empowerment programs that give vulnerable women—widows, single mothers, and displaced persons—a second chance at self-reliance. Her words are not just rhetoric; they reflect a growing legacy of action aimed at transforming society’s most neglected into its most promising
Under her visionary leadership, UFF has implemented:
In the heart of Nigeria’s underserved communities, Ambassador Bertha is rewriting the story of marginalization—one girl, one mother, one community at a time. Her leadership has fueled a wave of Girl-Child Education Campaigns across Southern Nigeria, successfully reintegrating over 3,000 out-of-school girls into formal education—a feat that speaks volumes in a region where early marriage, poverty, and gender norms often cut education short.
But her impact doesn't stop at the school gates. In Delta, Kaduna, and Borno States, she has spearheaded Vocational Skills Training Programs tailored for widows, single mothers, and displaced women, offering them not only tools for survival but pathways to financial independence and dignity.
Her work in Community Health and Hygiene Initiatives has become a beacon of hope for rural women, promoting maternal health awareness and tackling gender-based health disparities through grassroots engagement, mobile clinics, and health education.
Meanwhile, her Youth Mentorship Schemes are cultivating the next generation of leaders—connecting underserved youth with educational scholarships and leadership development opportunities, and positioning them to rise beyond their environment.
From classrooms to clinics, from conflict zones to community centers, Ambassador Bertha’s legacy is one of inclusion, resilience, and transformation—proving that with the right support, vulnerable populations can become powerful change-makers in their own right.
Her foundation has partnered with key institutions such as the National Human Rights Commission, Ministry of Women Affairs, and local NGOs to drive strategic programs in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A unique facet of Dr. Bertha’s advocacy is her focus on women’s inclusion in peace and security processes. As the Program Lead for the Women Platform on Security Sector Reform and Governance, she works to ensure that women's voices are central in discussions around national security, post-conflict reconstruction, and governance in West Africa.
Headquartered in Dakar, Senegal and supported by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, the platform advocates for gender-responsive reforms in military and police institutions across ECOWAS countries. Through this initiative, Dr. Bertha has facilitated high-level training for women peacebuilders and collaborated with government institutions on developing inclusive national security policies.
She also serves as a faculty member in Nigeria’s exclusive Women-Only Training Programme on Civil-Military Relations, training a new cadre of female leaders to engage in defense oversight and conflict resolution.
With years of experience in global forums, Ambassador Eloho Bertha has represented Nigeria and African women at major international gatherings—including UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) events, AU peace dialogues, and global summits on women’s rights.
Her thought leadership has been published in journals and shared through keynote speeches at:
The African Women Leadership Conference in Kigali, The Global Peace and Development Summit in Geneva, and The Commonwealth Roundtable on Girls’ Education in London.
She continues to mentor young women leaders through international networks, including Women in Security Studies – Africa, and has been recognized by organizations such as UN Women, ECOWAS Gender Unit, and The African Union Peace & Security Council.
Those who know Dr. Bertha describe her as a “Lioness”—not for ferocity, but for courage and perseverance in the face of deeply rooted societal challenges. Whether it’s mobilizing resources for an IDP camp or advocating for legal protections for the girl-child, she is relentless, focused, and deeply empathetic.
Even outside official platforms, she continues to volunteer with local community development associations, lead church-based outreach initiatives, and provide mentorship to women navigating trauma, abuse, and displacement.
During the award presentation, a representative of the Nigeria Peace Advocate Network, Ambassador Kingsley described Dr. Bertha as, “A woman of unwavering principle and dynamic compassion. She embodies the very best of African leadership—visionary, service-driven, and globally aware. This honour affirms a lifetime of purposeful work.”
In her heartfelt acceptance speech, Ambassador Bertha reflected on her journey:
“This award is for every girl who’s been told her dreams don’t matter, for every woman silenced in a room where she should lead, and for every mother struggling to give her child a future. Our work is not done until dignity is the standard—not the exception—for every Nigerian, every African, every human being.”
With her Ph.D. in progress and her international engagements expanding, Dr. Bertha remains deeply committed to building a Nigeria—and a world—where justice, peace, and opportunity are accessible to all.
Her next projects include launching a National Coalition for Girl-Child Protection, expanding UFF’s model to other West African countries, and influencing policy at the African Union level on integrating gender justice into peace accords and post-conflict rebuilding frameworks.
Ambassador Dr. Eloho Bertha Ogbimi is more than an advocate—she is an institution. Through the power of education, empathy, and organized action, she has transformed the lives of thousands. Her legacy continues to grow, measured not by titles, but by the hope she restores, the systems she reforms, and the generations she inspires.
As Nigeria and the global community strive to achieve the SDGs and create inclusive, peaceful societies, voices like Dr. Bertha’s will remain indispensable. She is living proof that when women lead with courage and conviction, nations flourish.
Ambassador Dr. Eloho Bertha Ogbimi’s recognition as Nigeria’s Most Notable Female Advocate is more than a ceremonial honor—it is a resounding validation of her lifelong mission to champion equity, elevate voices, and build a more inclusive world. Her journey reflects the transformative power of leadership rooted in compassion, vision, and action.
From the dusty classrooms of underserved communities to the halls of international policy forums, Dr. Bertha has remained steadfast in her pursuit of justice for women and girls. Her work bridges local realities with global agendas, reminding us that real change begins when people—not just policies—are empowered.
As she continues to shape narratives and influence systems through the Uja Family Foundation and her global engagements, Dr. Bertha stands as a beacon of hope for the next generation of leaders. Her legacy is not confined to the titles she holds, but etched in the countless lives she has impacted—one act of service, one voice amplified, one community uplifted at a time.
In honoring her, Nigeria—and indeed the world—celebrates the enduring truth that women are not just participants in development; they are its architects. And with advocates like Dr. Eloho Bertha Ogbimi leading the way, the future is not only promising—it is already unfolding.