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“I’m absolutely overwhelmed with joy,” says Ijeoma. “In my wildest dreams I never believed I would get such an award.”
The honours system, presented by or in the name of the reigning monarch, recognises people who have made achievements in public life and have committed themselves to serving and helping the United Kingdom. Ijeoma – now Professor Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu – was recognised for services to the Chemical Sciences and to Inclusion and Diversity.
“I was really pleased that Chemical Sciences was included,” says Ijeoma. “I’ve always been happy with my scientific career and the way it’s going. But diversity and inclusion was a role I went into reluctantly. I was invited to get involved and wasn’t really keen on doing it, and naively I thought ‘where’s the problem?’ Until I saw the data. Seeing the data almost made me angry, and then I asked the Provost [of University College London (UCL), where Ijeoma is a Professor of Pharmaceutical Neuroscience] for a post, so that I could do some work to promote racial equity.”
Ijeoma says one of her proudest achievements is her successful push to remove the names of prominent eugenicists from UCL buildings.
“We had a committee that was split straight down the middle at the outset, but it wasn’t long before all the committee members agreed to the removing of the names. This was a fifteen-month process and by about the second meeting the language was changing. In the end we all got to the same conclusion. One key factor was demonstrating that these eugenicists were challenged in their time, and it wasn’t the prevailing attitude of their contemporaries. I just felt a massive sense of achievement once the committee came to an agreement.”
And how does that sense of achievement compare to her recognition in the New Year Honours?
“I’m absolutely thrilled. I wouldn’t say I’m humbled – I know people say that, but when I saw the letter at the Porters’ Lodge what I felt was an overwhelming sense of gratitude and pride.”
Ijeoma is already looking ahead to the ceremony at Buckingham Palace, mainly the logistics of who to bring from her family as guests. “I have four daughters!” She laughs. “How would I choose? I’ve got four grandchildren, two of whom are teenagers, so I’ll go with them and my husband if I get three guests.”
For the rest of her family, and friends, Ijeoma is planning a celebration all together. “We’re going to have a big party, the biggest party we could possibly have.” A party, perhaps, worthy of a Dame.
Photo by Lloyd Mann
