UCHE ISIEKE-AFRICA'S YOUNG INNOVATIVE CHANGE MAKER WITH IMPECCABLE PASSION FOR RURAL RESILIENCE

By Okeahu Johnson



Uche Isieke is an advocate for rural resilience, livelihood systems, and inclusion. He is quite passionate about the rural people, their environment, social and economic well-being. He is a young development professional with over 5years of experience and has impacted over 20,000 rural populace in over 10 communities through his various initiatives targeted at the poor and marginalized groups.
  Uche is the Executive Director of Rural Watch  African Initiative (RUWAI), a nonprofit committed to strengthening the production and protective resilience of the vulnerable rural communities whose livelihoods are threatened due to the ecological degradation, worsened by the human errors and climate change. Uche's core expertise is on rural resilience, livelihood systems, social innovative financing, and climate change adaptation. He is inspiring young Nigerians to lead in climate action and community development.

In 9/ 2017 - 2018, he was appointed as Assistant Country Consultant during the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification – Land Degradation Neutrality project( UNCCD – LDN- TSP), in Nigeria.
This national task availed Mr. Isieke the platform where he met and interacted with  key stakeholders amongst  relevant multilateral, bilateral, and donor agencies operating in Nigeria; and modeled collaborative strategies, for the implementation of the Nigeria LDN targets and other sustainable land restoration and live hoods initiatives.

He was a part of the team which mapped the strategic operation plan, for the successfully implemented baseline study of over 10  land degradation hotspots across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

Uche  also contributed immeasurably, through research and drafting of reports for the UNCCD - NC in Nigeria, which was periodically  transmitted to the African regional office in Nairobi, etc.

He practically identified relevant multilateral, bilateral and donors; developed a strategic engagement mechanism and facilitated meetings with the UNCCD - NC and the country's secretariat.

Uche Isieke, during the time, was also in charge of both conventional and digital (social) media solutions regarding the UNCCD LDN project, in Nigeria. As part of his innovation drive, he developed a digital tool that allowed national and global conversations among the high-level stakeholders, around issues on climate change, desertification, and land degradation, with an aim to stimulating action for climate impact mitigation and adaptation.

Subsequently, he got a nomination to serve in the high-level National Technical Working Group, which developed Nigeria’s LDN voluntary targets Framework -a working policy document towards the restoration of Nigeria’s degraded landscapes to food security and economic growth in the country.

Uche served as a pioneer member of the technical committee, in the Stand Up To Be Counted project. A self-help/initiative for rural community development programme which mobilizes indigenous peoples’ voluntary participation in community development through innovative means. He also served as director, media publicity and strategy; and as assistant project director, from March 2015-2018.

On 26 August 2016, he initiated and led an indigenous rural community project awareness rally, which has been  described as  the "first of it kind in Africa", the first-ever rural community project mobilization rally in Oka community, Southeast Nigeria. The event witnessed the participation of over 50,000 indigenous and non-indigenes of the Oka community around the globe.

This was achieved through a dedicated community engagement digital platform; making Oka community the first indigenous rural community in Africa that has adopted the use of digital technology and media, in community development, as conceptualized and implemented by the Uche Isieke led transformative initiatives for rural community engagement and development. His dedication and contributions to rural development have been adjured “the most innovative “as it brought a tremendous facelift in his community's development landscapes. The consciousness of the people for community service has been reawakened; is now ever ready to volunteer for the common good of their community.

In  November 2017, he was called to serve in the Committee that facilitated the presentation of a successful book of Nigeria’s foremost diplomat and former Foreign Affairs Minister; and also the immediate past United Nations Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary/ Permanent Representative, H.E, Ambassador (Prof.) U.Joy Ogwu, OFR, where he demonstrated excellence in project coordination, during the period, while he served as the secretary, Planning Committee; event consultant and secretariat coordinator.

He was responsible for the drafting of invitation letters, minutes taking and reporting, facilitating communications among former and serving government functionaries including heads of states/presidents, diplomatic heads in Nigeria; military service chiefs, identification of vendors and strategic meetings, and program digital design; among others. The event witnessed the gathering of past presidents of Nigeria, past and serving political functionaries, heads of government MDAs and the diplomatic community.

Uche Isieke has consulted and also volunteered in several local and international NGO’s projects including the STOP EROSION NOW where he served as the national secretary and subsequently, the project manager; United Nations Environmental Programme(UNEP)EBAFOSA project, the YALI Africa supported by the United States of America; Federal Ministry of Environment and many others.

Over the years, Uche has attended many courses, workshops and conferences both locally and internationally in relevant fields, among others are: African Initiative for Combating Desertification to Strengthen Resilience to Climate Change in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa; Best Practices for Combating Desertification and Land Degradation, Networking for Combating Desertification and Land Degradation; Fund Sourcing of methodology for community development; Climate Change, Governance, and Community Engagement – University of Michigan (2018) GIS and early warning drought system; United Nations LDN project workshop on Safety operations; Digital media advocacy and management, entrepreneurship and youth development; Environment Audit and the process to standardization.

He is a founding member of the African Youth Entrepreneur-Startup Development Initiative (AYESDI) an NGO that champions youth development through skills, network, and job creation, under the mentorship of Dr.Strive Masiyiwa of the Econet Group; Founder/CEO of Rural Watch Africa Initiative, a non-profit that focuses on building the livelihoods and resilience of rural communities facing climate change, environmental(land) degradation, and social exclusion.

Uche is a member of the National Working Group of the African Initiative for Combating Desertification to Strengthen Resilience to Combat Climate Change in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa, on Improving Access to Funds for land restoration; a member of the European Union-funded AfriAllian Network;  Water Supply& Sanitation Collaborative Council, Switzerland, and more.

Photos, showing dilapidated Oka Primary School,Oka Central School,( all in Isiala Mbano,Imo State); Community Secondary School, Ifakala(Ikeduru, Imo state); and Government Secondary School, Adamawa. Uche and his team have been pushing( advocating) to get the relevant public and private institutions to come to the aid of the students in these rural communities.

As part of his advocacy for rural development and his contribution towards the development of his rural community, the young Uche, in  March 2016, convened a forum of patriots who are passionate about community service with over 1000 members- the Odi Nma Oka Forum is championing leadership, and indigenous people's participation in governance and community development.

Uche currently, serves in the Editorial Team of the Nigerian Harvest Magazine, a specialized that focuses on harvesting promising initiatives and success stories in Agriculture and rural development.

He was the Special Assistant to Nigeria’s former Foreign Affairs Minister and Permanent Representatives to the United Nations, Her Excellency, Ambassador(Prof.) U.Joy Ogwu, OFR, on Digital Information and Secretarial Matters.

Uche Isieke has a certificate in Safety and Security Management; a Bachelors degree in Environmental Resources Management and many other certifications, to his credit.

He recently got nominated to participate in the United Nations Indigenous Fellowship Programme, in Geneva, Switzerland in recognition of his advocacy for environmental sustainability and rural/social inclusiveness.

“Climate change education is critical,as it embeds efficiency mindset and efficiency standards,in citizens. An action – driven advocacy is a way developing countries can meet emissions reduction targets and mitigate emissions growth across sectors. #KnowBetterActBetter”

You can get in touch with Uche Isieke via his official email:

ucheisieke@gmail.com and across social media platforms.

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