GPYouth Featured Leader: Emeka Arinze Iloegbu

Naomi Yakawich
April 29, 2016

“Leaders will be challenged, despised, questioned, ridiculed, and in some cases attacked. To stand strong in the midst of adversity is what defines such a leader. They must finding tranquility in a region of chaos to fulfill the purpose of which they were sent.” -Emeka Arinze Iloegbu

Every month, Global Peace Youth USA features exemplary young leaders from across the United States. Emeka Arinze Iloegbu is a graduate of the University of Hartford, with experience from the Icahn School of Medicine and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He currently serves on the Disaster Action Team with the New York Red Cross and volunteers as a Clinical Lab Scientist on the Medical Reserve Corps of New York City where his team faced the emergence of the Zika virus. Emeka is also an active member of the NYC Citizenship Corps, which helps residents through the naturalization process.

GPY-USA Featured Leader Emeka Arinze Iloegbu pictured far right.

Throughout his continued studies in global health, Emeka shared, “In many ways I try to portray the great figures I have been reading about in the Bible. Being a leader and answering the call to action is something that was birthed into me right after my undergraduate studies. I do my best to maintain my service to the community. I recognize that there are people in my immediate environment in need.”

From 2011 through 2013, Emeka volunteered over 800 hours of community service, granting him the honor of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. When asked why role models that display moral and innovative capacities are important, Emeka answered, “The characteristics a leader should embody center around morality and innovation. Essentially it serves as a foundation when formulating principles of which they believe in and stand for. Leaders will be challenged, despised, questioned, ridiculed, and in some cases attacked. To stand strong in the midst of adversity is what defines such a leader. They must finding tranquility in a region of chaos to fulfill the purpose of which they were sent. This is the reason why the quality of ones morals, and the versatility of their innovative practices are vital to leaders emerging during these times of hunger, disasters, violence, and human rights violations.”

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