Meet
The Team

“The essence of life is to replicate a life that is worthwhile.”

Esther Uche Ukandu joined IWEF in August of 2015 with the aspiration of impacting those who are deprived. She originates from southeastern Nigeria and has a bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Technology from Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU).

She had her service to Nigeria in 2015/16 where she served in Ede North Local Government secretariat with the 2015/16 batch B stream 2, and also as a professional in health safety and the environment (HSE 1and 2).

Ukandu holds project management certification from the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM) in the UK, an affiliate to the Federal University of Technology Akure.

Ukandu is currently a member of the drug-free and quality control scheme club under the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Osun State command where she works to sensitize high school students on the endangerment of hard drugs. She is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST), a member of the Niger Delta Commission for Art and Culture. In 2010 she underwent a training in Peace and Conflict Resolution and in 2011 she held the position of the treasurer in the National Association of Lagos Based Students (NALABS) MOUAU chapter. During her tenure, she initiated the idea in creating the Grace Anele Williams Hostel Awards (GAWH Awards) alongside her four comrades in 2010. During her service year with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 2015/16, she carried out a personal Community Development Service (CDS) in Ede North Local Government Area where she renovated the Primary Health Centre and conducted a free medical service for the community.

Ukandu attended Triple T Fashion School where she majored in Costume Design and Tailoring. She got her first job in media at the age of 15 anchoring a television series, “Teen’s World” MCTV under disc communications limited. Later, she gained experience in audiovisual production as a voice over artist. Subsequently, she worked as an intern at Protea Hotels Victoria Island for her industrial training (IT) as an undergraduate in the university. Ukandu later moved on immediately after graduation to work with Rhapsody’s Nigeria as a hostess and reservations personnel.