Uzoma Ibekwe
Nigeria
Writer & Spoken Word Artiste
Uzoma Ibekwe is a Nigerian writer and award-winning spoken word artiste whose poetry is centered on motivating individuals and tackling socio-economic issues.
She first took her poetry public in 2018, and has since graced many events and stages. She believes enlightenment is the greatest tool for progress and is working towards her goal of achieving large-scale positive societal changes with her words.
What inspired you to enter the World NTD Day Story telling competition?
The ignorance about neglected tropical diseases in my society. I realized that even in places where these diseases were known, there was a lot of misinformation that needed to be corrected and I believed the World NTD Day Storytelling competition would be a good platform to help the message reach a wider audience.
Why does fighting NTDs matter to you?
I find it unsympathetic to let people go through preventable painful experiences that sometimes result in permanent body disfigurement or death, simply because they are in disadvantaged environments. If suffering can be prevented, it should be.
How do you intend on continuing the fight against NTDs after this competition?
Based on my skill set and the current level of awareness in my country, my plan is to create content that enlightens people, encouraging them to join in the fight; and end the misinformation about neglected tropical diseases.
What would be your request to your country’s leaders regarding fighting NTDs?
Firstly, environmental sanitation programmes should be made a priority especially in high-poverty regions. Secondly, there should be adequate funding for the healthcare sector of the economy.
