S03E05 - Dr Eleazar Iwuji
In this deeply human conversation, Dr Eleazar Iwuji—born in rural Nigeria, a teacher-turned-academic, judge of Nigeria’s National Industrial Court, and later a United Nations/ILO official—shares the 5 most influential people in his life and how they forged his character, career, faith and service.
You’ll hear how parental courage, a mentor’s belief, a wife’s wisdom, friends’ extraordinary generosity, and a Mauritanian UN leader’s advocacy propelled a journey from no shoes at 14 to global impact.
Who is Dr Eleazar Iwuji?
- Nigerian educator, former Judge, National Industrial Court (Lagos)
- Later International Labour Organization (UN) official
- Author of Memoir of a Country Boy
- Father to accomplished children in medicine, diplomacy, the arts, and academia
The 5 Most Influential People
- His Parents (Mother & Father) – Faith, discipline, equality, courage (“How can a tiger have a sheep?”), and a fierce commitment to education.
- Alfred (mentor/friend) – Spotted potential, mapped an alternative route via teacher training, and armed him with better materials (e.g., Dudley Stamp’s Geography of the World) to pass key exams.
- Dorothy (his late wife) – Intelligent, decisive, faith-filled partner; community-builder and home-science entrepreneur who trained street girls in Addis Ababa; her counsel steadied him after setbacks and clinched the ILO decision.
- Emmanuel & Jonathan (college friends) – Lifelong allies who funded £300 of the £450 needed to get him to the UK—sacrificing months of salary and changing his trajectory.
- Elimane Kane (Mauritania, ILO) – Senior ILO leader who kept opening doors, commissioning research, and ultimately recruiting him to the UN/ILO.
What you’ll learn
- How character + community beat circumstance
- Practical models of mentorship, partnership, generosity, and leadership - Why investing in education compounds across generations
- The power of faith, humility, service, and respect for every person
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