Veronica Pana Igube is a name to remember. Born in Nigeria, she is a witness to the impact that empowered women can make, and a testament to the strength of female leadership in her country and abroad. Veronica’s mother, of Ugandan descent, taught as a Professor of Sociology at the University of Abuja. With her mother’s impressive example, Veronica was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2013 and is now an LLM candidate in the Parasol Foundation International LL.M. program at Tel Aviv University. She holds an LL.B. from the University of Abuja and is currently an Irwin Cotler Fellow at the The Irwin Cotler Institute for Democracy, Human Rights and Justice.

As a girl, she was invited to join her mother at the 8th Interdisciplinary Congress on Women at the Women’s World Congress in Kampala, Uganda. There, she was drawn to a stall that featured the Sara cartoons, a UNICEF-ESARO (East and Southern Africa Regional Office) initiative to research, produce and disseminate a regional communication package to promote the rights of the child, emphasizing gender issues. From here, her passion for women’s and child rights and education was ignited.

Though she had long felt compelled to visit Israel, she did not consider pursuing studies there until a chance encounter with her friend, Omolaraeni Odeniyi, who told her about TAU’s technology and law program. Intrigued by this rare opportunity to finally see Israel and also pursue her growing interest in digital rights and human rights, she wasted no time in applying to TAU’s specialty program on technology and law, artificial intelligence and intellectual property.

A digital rights champion, women’s and child rights advocate passionate about human rights, education and youth empowerment, it is no surprise that she soon caught the attention of the university and was invited to apply to become an Irwin Cotler Fellow.

Before beginning her studies at The Irwin Cotler Institute, she did not have an understanding of the history and impact of anti-semitism. As a Christian, Israel held deep meaning to her. She asserts that the exceptional program at the Institute, coupled with the outstanding opportunities to tour the country and delve into its history and culture, have been life-altering. Already focussed on making a true impact in the lives of women and children in Nigeria, her experiences in Israel and at the Institute have further fueled her mission and given her the tools and knowledge to take meaningful action.

From her time in Israel, she is acutely aware that the media shows what is advantageous to them. Stating that people without facts can cause serious harm, Veronica says it is crucial to challenge social media, especially when people don’t really understand what they are reading or seeing.

In this light, Veronica believes that one of the most important things we can do is to counter hate speech. From her days at law school in Nigeria and in the country’s National Youth Service, she discovered her passion for technology of law and the extreme interconnection, in the modern day, with human rights. She found her spark in raising awareness, using the online space to combat and educate people about how to be responsible when we engage online.

Veronica is the Co-Founder of We Ignite Lives for Greatness Nigeria Initiative (WiLG), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) focused on promoting human rights especially the rights of women and children, advancing youth and women development. With her emphasis on digital rights and human rights, her goal is to mentor young people and to raise awareness of social issues. WiLG has the mandate to make education accessible to women and to get them into politics and policy issues.

Glowing in her praise for the Cotler Fellowship and the high caliber of the Institute, Veronica is grateful for the degree to which the program has expanded her skills and enabled her to empower her mentees on issues of antisemitism, women’s and child rights, and policy issues on digital rights. She appreciates that the Fellowship teaches that when you throw seeds, ultimately there is growth; little steps can take you a long way.

Right now, while the Fellowship program may seem like small drops in different countries and regions, Veronica sees that the program is building leaders in different countries and continents. The Institute is taking its message to the world and challenging whatever tries to supersede human rights around the world. She says that the work Institute is doing is phenomenal and that the Fellowship is connecting future global leaders.

Veronica has been inspired by the builders of Israel. As an individual, she contemplates what she can contribute to the Nigerian community and to the African dream. Indeed, she knows that one action she takes can change the world, and she is intent on being the person to take that step and create that change.

We are extremely proud of Veronica Pana Igube and grateful for her involvement with TAU. No doubt, she will blaze trails and continue to advocate for empowerment, education and human rights in Nigeria and around the world.