Cynthia Umezulike

Cynthia Chisom Umezulike is a British Nigerian human rights lawyer,^[1] legal scholar, author^[2] and climate sustainability activist.^[3][4] She is the president at the Global Human Rights Centre (GHRC) London,^[5] co-chair of the Hon. Justice Innocent Umezulike Foundation^[6] and chair and director of the International Conference on Human Rights, Sustainability and Climate Change.^[7]

Cynthia Umezulike
Born	Cynthia Chisom Umezulike
Alma mater	Igbinedion University Queen Mary University of London University of East London Birkbeck, University of London
Occupation	Lawyer, Activist, Professor
Family	Father Innocent Umezulike

Early life and education

Umezulike was born to jurist father who served as the chief judge of Enugu State Innocent Umezulike^[8][9] from Mgbidi in Enugu State. She attended Our Lord's Shepherd International School (OLSIS) in Enugu and later joined Igbinedion University in Edo State, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree.^[10] She attended the Nigerian Law School and became a Barrister and Solicitor at Law (BL) Federal Republic of Nigeria Law (BL).^[11]

She thereafter got a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree in international human rights law from the Queen Mary University of London and later obtained a second master's degree LL.M. degree in international law and criminal justice from University of East London.^[12] She went on to attend Birkbeck, University of London, graduating with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree in law.^[13]

Career

After completing her studies, She began working as the head of legal and business governance at Diamond Hanger Aviation London and an aasociate lecturer in constitutional and administrative law at Birkbeck, University of London, and international human rights lecturer at the University of Buckingham, Chair of the International Conference on Human Rights, Sustainability and Climate Change at University of Buckingham.^[14] She also became the director of human rights and advocacy and worked as a third sector Head of Racial Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, helping organizations in developing and implementing cultural interventions to drive systemic and cultural change.^[9][15]

In 2019, Umezulike set up The Hon. Justice Innocent Umezulike Foundation, during a memorial lecture marking the first anniversary of her father's death with a presentation of the book Hon. Justice Innocent Umezulike: A Chronicle of Leading Judgements Volume 1^[16][17] and later became a co-chair and trustee of the foundation, which is named after her father.^[18][19]

She was recommended by the United Nations Consultative Group to the president of the Hunan Rights Council in 2024 as the final two nominee for the human rights independent expert mandate Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent^[20]  and as a member of the Working Group of Experts on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas^[21]. She is an associate professor and Director for The Centre for Sustainable Development, Energy transition and Climate change.^[22]

Activism for human rights and diversity

Umezulike is known for her work in human rights, climate advocacy, gender justice, and participation in public forums addressing racism which also include the Black Lives Matter.^[23] Her legal and academic contributions focus on socio-economic rights, women's empowerment, and climate justice, particularly in vulnerable communities. In a 2024 opinion piece published in The Guardian, she advocated for generational change in Nigerian politics, calling for greater inclusion of youth in governance.^[24] She has also participated in international discussions on environmental and social governance, where she highlighted the importance of values-based communication to foster public trust in climate-related initiatives^[25] and at COP29, where she called for the integration of human rights principles into climate policy, with an emphasis on gender-responsive approaches for rural communities affected by climate change.^[26]

Since 2024, Umezulike serves as Vice Chair of the UK Human Rights Lawyers Association,^[27] making her one of the youngest Black women to hold a senior executive position in the organisation’s history^[28] and was named among the Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) under 40 for her contributions to law, policy, and sustainable development.^[29]

In 2025, she coordinated climate sustainability awareness campaigns at several UK universities^[30], including the University of Bedfordshire, combining legal education with environmental outreach^[31][32] and her gender rights activism draws from personal experiences, including surviving gender-based violence.^[33] She has also promoted legal and institutional reforms to support rural women’s economic rights in Nigeria and written on structural patriarchy and cultural norms, encouraging discourse on the internalisation of gender inequality in African societies.^[34][35]

Writing

In 2024, she authored a short story titled, The Death of Mother: An Ogbanje Story.^[36][37]

Recognition and awards

In 2022, she received the Distinguished Emerging Scholar Award from Marymount Manhattan College, New York^[38] and the Global Engagement award from the University of East London in 2024.^[39] In 2010, she won Miss Commonwealth International Nigeria and represented Nigeria at Miss Commonwealth International^[11]