Tina Odinakachi Iirmdu is a Lecturer in the Department of Geography and Planning at the University of Jos. Her challenging childhood experiences – including incessant unrest and intimidation from cultists to her mom’s livelihood after the loss of Tina’s father – inspired her to set up scholarship programs for female indigenes of her hometown Umuako, Umuahia South, Abia State, and Jos, Plateau State to encourage the girl child. She is a philanthropist and the CEO of Jediba Foundation located in Jos, a foundation that reaches out to widows and orphans. She has been an active civil servant for 10 years.

Earlier in her career, as an examiner for the West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), she reported an exorbitant sum paid by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to her bank account in error. This outstanding act of conscientiousness and the subsequent media involvement alongside guest appearances on national television laid the foundation for her student mentorship program which was initiated in 2011. She constantly defies threats in order to uphold fairness and merit in examination evaluations. She has been described by her colleagues as friendly, hardworking, humane and humble.

Watch the inspiring short film on Tina below.