Yet another Nigerian youngster beams the light in UK

Commitment, hard work, and good deeds still get noticed – and rewarded. Despite all the perceived negativity and apparent lack of direction as a nation, Nigeria still has young men and women who seem to be obsessed with leaving positive footprints in the sands.

Next on that growing list is Funke Abimbola, a Nigerian lawyer based in Britain, who recently got rewarded with the honour of the prestigious award of the Member of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II of England.

Funke Abimbola is the general counsel and head of financial compliance for one of the world’s largest biotech companies, Roche UK.

A public speaker and multi award-winning solicitor, Abimbola is regarded as the most senior black lawyer for Roche in the UK, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta.

She works as a volunteer in the area of education, fundraising for cancer research and economic regeneration. Wikipedia describes her as a strong advocate of corporate and social diversity.

As it turned out, the royal family was not the first to notice this young Nigerian lawyer. In October 2016, she was presented with a ‘Point of Light’ award by the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, for her voluntary diversity work.

The prime minister had said in a personal letter to her: “You have become a role model for thousands of young people, inspiring them to believe that race or gender should not be a barrier to achieving their potential.

“By speaking so passionately to groups in Parliament, the Law Society and, most importantly, 2000 school children and university students, you are supporting the professions to become more diverse.”

Those who have made doing good works a way of life often do not think of recognition, because to them, that is not the primary motivation.

So it was with Abimbola.

She said: “I was absolutely stunned when I received an official letter from the Cabinet Office informing me of this in early May. The letter explained that, having taken advice from the Head of the Civil Service and the Main Honours Committee, the prime minister needed my permission before submitting my name to the Queen and recommending that I be awarded the MBE.

“It is incredible to think that campaigning for equality in my personal time (having experienced both direct racial and gender-based discrimination myself) and supporting young people to reach their potential has led to me receiving a Queen’s honour.

“I am still taking it all in, and feel very humbled and proud to be receiving this honour. More than anything, I am extremely grateful to everyone who has supported my journey and played a part in shaping and developing my vision – my parents, my family, friends, teachers, mentors and mentees.

“Mine has not been an easy path at all and I still face many challenges but I am very thankful for the support and encouragement I have received along the way.”

Among other recognitions, early this year, Abimbola was listed in the law section of Debrett’s 500. Debrett’s 500 list recognises Britain’s 500 most influential people, carefully compiled by independent specialists in each of a number of sectors – from Advertising, Business and Fashion through to Politics, Science and Law.

Abimbola’s voluntary contribution to and influence in workplace diversity, particularly focusing on improving gender balance, race diversity and social mobility within the legal profession as well as her voluntary work in empowering young people to overcome obstacles and maximize their potential earned her a place on that list.

Abimbola comes from a family of medical doctors, but she did not study medicine because of her phobia for “pains and blood”. She obtained her law degree from Newcastle University, and came to Nigeria in the mid-1990s to sit the Nigeria Bar examination.

After she returned the UK in the mid-1990s, she worked with Wembley Plc where she qualified as a corporate/commercial lawyer. She later moved to Campbell Hooper where she became a solicitor.

In 2012, she joined Roche UK as Managing Counsel (UK and Ireland); and in December 2015, she became Roche’s general counsel and company secretary.

In 2014, Abimbola was nominated for a National Diversity Award, and in the same year, she was nominated for the Law Society Excellence Awards. In 2015, she won a Positive Role Model Award, and in 2010, she was appointed governor of Uxbridge College, London, on a four-year term.

She is currently recognised as the most influential black lawyer in Britain.

So, how will the MBE award affect her?

“My aim is to use this recognition as an elevated platform to open more doors for under-represented communities and to further advance the equality agenda by demonstrating that we are all bigger than the box that either society or the workplace chooses to put us in.

“I will be carrying as many people along with me as possible and continue to drive lasting societal change,” she says.