Recognized for her human rights advocacy, leadership in advancing social and racial justice, and advancement of the Black community in legal education and in the legal profession, Allard Law Professor Dr. Irehobhude Iyioha has been awarded a King Charles III Coronation Medal.
The medal honours individuals who have made a significant contribution in Canada or abroad. Through her work to support Black and racialized students and faculty and to support charitable work in Canada and Africa, Dr. Iyioha has done both. As stated in her citation for this award, Dr. Iyioha “pioneers transformative programs supporting Black students, professionals and academics while advancing equity, education and justice for marginalized communities globally.”
If you looked around law schools and other university programs in Canada, you will find many students who have been impacted by Dr. Iyioha’s mentorship. “My focus has been on using my voice – through institutional advocacy, writings and innovative programs – in a way that uplifts others, especially the most marginalized members of our society,” says Dr. Iyioha. “This comes with its own challenges, but with each success, I’m reassured of the importance of this work.”
Dr. Iyioha’s focus on advancing social justice and human rights started early in Nigeria. “My creative writing was a political project that took shape during the days of military juntas in Nigeria. My parents instilled the importance of speaking truth to power,” she adds. Since moving to Canada, much of Dr. Iyioha’s work has focused on advocating for representation, equity and substantive equality of opportunity – in addition to her work as a law professor at Allard Law – where she holds the inaugural UBC Professorship in Race and Access to Justice.
Among her many achievements, Dr. Iyioha was nominated for establishing award-winning educational and professional programs.
Dr. Iyioha established the PEIF Fund Service-Mentorship Exchange Program to support students and young professionals from all racial backgrounds who are committed to giving back to underserved communities while achieving their academic and professional goals. To date, initiatives co-led by the program’s mentees and funded by the program have provided food to numerous children, as well as universal basic education to children-in-need, especially disabled children and children in orphanages, across several countries with participating mentees. Students from the program have gone on to pursue degrees in science, engineering and law programs at universities across North America and Africa.
Loveleen Sidhu, a second-year law student at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law in Toronto, became a mentee in the program as an undergraduate student at the University of Alberta. Dr. Iyioha and Sidhu established the Kids Food Basket Program in Edmonton as one of the flagship programs of the PEIF Fund, which – through the PEIF Fund’s funding and resources – provided nutritious food to vulnerable children. “The PEIF Fund [Program] taught me you can have it all,” says Sidhu. “You can become an educated, empowered woman while giving back to the community.”
Third-year UVic law student Tobi Aruleba also participated in the program. She says having a mentor who understood her goals and encouraged her to lean into her strengths made all the difference when she applied for law school.
“[My mentor’s] guidance helped me see my potential more clearly and navigate the law school application process with greater confidence,” says Aruleba. “Through this program, Dr. Iyioha has opened doors for so many of us, creating space for mentorship, growth and representation, and that impact is exactly why she deserves this recognition.”
Olugbenga Olubanjo joined the PEIF Fund Program as a mentee in 2016, after completing his civil Engineering degree in Nigeria. He has since completed a master’s degree in applied science at the University of Toronto and founded the clean energy startup Reedii, which was one of 15 finalists for $1.7-million Earthshot Prize. “Dr. Iyioha and her team exposed me to possibilities far beyond Nigeria's shores,” says Olubanjo. “Through her leadership, she has instilled in mentees like myself the belief that we can overcome any obstacle.”
As part of her efforts to advance the retention of Black students in law degree programs, Dr. Iyioha launched the Black Professionals Leadership Program, now known as the Racial Justice Program, which is the first educational support program for Black law students at a university in Western Canada. She raised about three-quarters of a million dollars to support the program, including $690,000 from the Law Foundation of British Columbia.
“With so much activity around getting Black students into law schools, it seemed necessary to ask, ‘What resources do you provide them after they get into the classroom?’” says Dr. Iyioha. “Black students belong in law schools too, but some may not feel like they belong – that these are white spaces.”
Matching Black law students with mentors and offering comprehensive supports, the program aimed to provide students the resources and tools to succeed. “It’s about representation – the type of representation that matters,” adds Dr. Iyioha. “We need to retain students in the educational system, so they can go on to become successful lawyers in their communities.”
Recognizing a similar need for better representation of Black professors, Dr. Iyioha founded UVic’s Association of Black Professors and Academics.
“When I think of the challenges that the Black community faces in university education, they seem to come back to the same issues,” says Dr. Iyioha. “By connecting with other Black professors across the university, we could see that our concerns and our stories were similar.”
Key achievements of the Association during Dr. Iyioha’s tenure as president include forming a Black Caucus within the Faculty Association, achieving Black representation on the next Collective Agreement negotiation, and initiating ongoing negotiations with the president’s office to address Black professors' concerns.
“As the first President of the University of Victoria Association of Black Professors and Academics, Dr. Iyioha has made significant contributions to supporting Black academics and students at the University of Victoria,” says Dr. Moustapha Fall, the association’s current president.
“Dr. Iyioha is incredibly deserving of this award because of her unwavering dedication to justice, equity and human rights. By using her expertise to drive meaningful change, she has not only inspired others, but has also played a crucial role in shaping policies and initiatives that promote fairness and inclusivity. This recognition is a strong testament to her extraordinary contributions and the transformative work she continues to do.”
Now at Allard Law, Dr. Iyioha’s goals remain clear – building on her work through her educational charity and in the academic community to ensure fair representation and advancement for scholars at all levels around the country.
This commitment is no surprise given Dr. Iyioha’s track record. “Through her leadership, she has worked tirelessly to break down systemic barriers and create pathways for marginalized communities to access justice and equal opportunities,” as Dr. Fall notes. “Her integrity and commitment to advancing civil rights, racial justice and health equity have had a profound and lasting impact.”
Despite these successes, “the experience of being Black and advocating for social justice can be extremely challenging,” cautions Dr. Iyioha, who has faced significant pushback for her advocacy work. But, for the scholar who has worked tirelessly, including through litigation, to raise awareness about the discrimination faced by Black scholars in the academy, she remains committed to her goals.
“It is an honour to be in such exceptional company of recipients of the King Charles III Medal of Honour,” says Dr. Iyioha. “What I do is based on a long family tradition. We’ve lost a lot in the fight for others. But there is grace when you’re committed to walking with integrity and dignity. So, in spite of the challenges, I insist on justice – and this recognition tells me it is okay to do just that.”
