Joel Mordi
Joel Nkeonye Mordi is a Nigerian human rights activist and social entrepreneur based in the United Kingdom. He is the founder of the Mordi Ibe Foundation (MIF) and a recipient of the 2024 Diana Legacy Award presented by Prince William at a ceremony in London.[1][2]
Mordi Ibe Foundation
[edit]In 2015, Mordi founded the Mordi Ibe Foundation (MIF), a non-profit organization supporting vulnerable students in Nigeria. The foundation's activities include educational retention programs, distribution of menstrual hygiene products, and emergency support for marginalized youth.[3][4]
2019 protest
[edit]In 2019, Mordi organized an LGBTQ+ pride protest in Lagos and Abuja.[4]
UK asylum and detention
[edit]Mordi arrived in the United Kingdom in November 2019.[5] Following his arrival, he was detained at Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre.[6] He later became a University of Sanctuary Scholar at the University of York, studying Global Development.[1]
Advocacy
[edit]In 2025, Mordi and activist Amanda Kamanda conducted "Two Refugees Walking," a 210-day awareness campaign across London boroughs.[7]
In March 2025, he spoke to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Immigration Detention about his experiences in detention.[6]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "University of York student wins prestigious Diana Legacy Award". University of York. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ^ "Prince William pays tribute to Diana at Legacy Awards". Associated Press. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ^ "Joel Nkeonye Mordi". The Diana Award. 10 July 2025. Archived from the original on 16 January 2026. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ^ a b "Joel Mordi". Global Teacher Prize. 17 July 2024. Archived from the original on 18 February 2026. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ^ "My family has suffered acid attacks - but Home Office made it harder to come to UK". The i Paper. 10 September 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ^ a b "Meeting on current state of UK immigration detention – March 2025". APPG on Immigration Detention. 22 May 2025. Archived from the original on 15 January 2026. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ^ Mordi, Joel; Kamanda, Amanda (17 June 2025). "Why I am walking backwards in every London borough – for refugees like me". The Independent. Archived from the original on 3 June 2026. Retrieved 3 June 2026.