Ifeoma Okonji - Founder

Ifeoma Okonji, the founder of Emerging Lives Initiative, is a Social entrepreneur and Changemaker who cut her teeth as a Customer Experience Professional of over twelve years and over nine years’ experience in the non-profit sector. She sees herself as an astute young lady whose passion to empower young women led her to start a non-profit organization -WELTI (Women Economic and Leadership Transformation Initiative) in Nigeria in 2015 that advocates for equality for young women in leadership, technology, health and education and also co-founder of the NPO hub a community of non-profit individuals and organizations who come together to share ideas, leverage opportunities and partner for sustainable social impact.

WELTI had its impact stories in the eight years of its existence before Ifeoma moved to Canada. Her dedication to helping youth transform their lives has never waned hence her being a Volunteer Business Mentor with the Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) Social Entrepreneurship Program (SEP) for students in High school.

Ifeoma's educational background stems from graduating at the English department with a Second Class Upper Division from the Anambra State University,Uli, Nigeria to the Herzing College,Ottawa, Canada where she studied as a Community Service Worker(CSW) and graduated with honours.

She believes that mentoring youth on career preparedness, entrepreneurship,  building their mental resilience, and social and economic development would aid sustainable economic development.  She is also a Mozilla Open leader and mentor and a member of the Open heroines Community.