UNIVERSITY OF East London lecturer and equality and diversity (E&D) advisor Dr Jummy Okoya has been named number four on a list of the 50 Most Inspirational Black Women in the UK.

Dr Okoya is chair of the Women’s Network at the University of East London and is a senior lecturer in organisational behaviour and human resource management, and former MBA Director in the School of business and law.

An international consultant and recognised speaker, she has been instrumental in launching an internal staff network for women at the university.

The network at UEL offers a support system and a vehicle for developing a female talent pipeline, to encourage more women into leadership positions. Since it was set up in 2016, that network has grown to 350 members in one year.

Dr Okoya said she felt very privileged to be ranked fourth out of 50 on the list.

She said: “I am humbled and honoured to be named number four on the list of the top 50 most inspirational black women in the UK. This acknowledgment is a credit to the incredible mentors in my life who have inspired and invested in me tirelessly, hence inspiring others. This is my way of paying it back. After all, to whom much is given, much is expected.

“I also consider this a call to action for me to use different platforms to do more for my students, colleagues and community at large. The true secret to lasting happiness is supporting others. Investing in others is super fulfilling. As William James said, ‘Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.’”

The fifty black women who have been named as the Most Inspirational Black Women in the UK are all working at grass-roots levels, with women including Anne-Marie Imafidon, Dawn Butler and Soul Stirrings Marcia Dixon.

The dynamic list carries names of women who are mostly not portrayed on mainstream media but their contribution to various black communities in the UK is very visible. It aims to bring to the forefront some of the great work carried out by these women.

The inaugural 2019 list of the 50 Most Inspiring Black Women In the UK was compiled by the Pauline Long Show team and will celebrate the list with a reception aimed at bringing these incredible women together.

The show, which is on Sky TV – BEN TV, produced and presented by Dr Pauline Long, has over the years interviewed hundreds of inspiring black women. They wanted to continue their legacy by officially listing some of them, so that the future and the current young generation can view these women as great positive role models.