Teaching lions: sharing the narrative of Dr Ada Adeghe

"Sow kindness; sow love; sow joy; sow justice, sow peace."

In this Black History Month blog, we share the narrative of, and pay tribute to a most highly regarded and inspirational colleague, Dr Ada Adeghe, the University's Associate Dean for Inclusivity. 

In the below video, recorded last year in recognition of Ada's 20 years of contribution to the University, Ada introduces her role and passion for EDI initiatives. 

Ada was born in Ibadan, in the western part of Nigeria, and grew up in an environment that many of us might struggle to imagine. She is one of 17 siblings — 12 girls and 5 boys — all raised under one roof. Ada is the tenth child and the sixth of the girls. Growing up in such a large, diverse household, Ada’s understanding and appreciation for diversity began in childhood. In a patriarchal society, she learned early how to make herself heard. She was raised with no concept of racism and was taught to believe she could be anything - even the President of the world! This limitless thinking, though, would come into sharp contrast with her experiences when she later arrived in the UK. 

Ada came to the UK as a young bride, six months pregnant with her first child. The cultural shock was profound. New food, accents, weather, and a society that wanted to place limits on what she could achieve and who she could be. Experiencing racism as an adult for the first time was a huge shock, and it still is, but Ada isn’t wired to accept being treated as less than.  She carries a belief in her limitless potential and isn’t afraid to challenge anyone or anything that tries to box her in.

In our work, we often talk about the power and importance of lived experiences, and this is especially relevant in Ada’s case. Here at the University of Wolverhampton, we are immensely proud of our international student community, but Ada’s experiences remain just as pertinent for our current international students. It’s no surprise she is leading the work to ensure that we support our international community. While we acknowledge there’s always more to do, she and the university can take pride in some of the forward-thinking plans and support mechanisms we’ve put in place. Yet, Ada will always push us further, and rightly so. It’s not enough, and we will continue to strive for more.

Ada’s own journey in education is nothing short of extraordinary. She earned her MPhil from the Centre for West African Studies at the University of Birmingham, where she foregrounded the literature of African women, shining a light on how their writings were marginalised in favour of their male counterparts—a budding interest in social justice and gender equality that has been central to her work ever since. As a mature, international student with three children under the age of four, Ada experienced first-hand the challenges that many of our mature student body face today. But through grit and determination, she also became a three-time University of Wolverhampton alumna, earning her ITT qualifications, a PGCE in coaching and mentoring, and eventually an EdD with a focus on what constitutes effective CPD and professionalism for school teachers.

Clearly, Ada’s life is one of joy, resilience, and deep purpose. She’s been married to her husband, Jude, a fertility and IVF specialist, for over 30 years, and together they’ve raised three children. Ada is a proud grandmother to four grandchildren — Harriet, Henry, and new arrivals, twins Zach and Levi. For her, family is everything, and her fight for inclusivity and justice is deeply intertwined with securing a safe and fair future for them.

Her Christian faith is central to her life, giving her confidence and a strong sense of self-worth. But Ada’s faith also drives her commitment to kindness, love, and justice. “Sow kindness; sow love; sow joy; sow justice, sow peace,” she says. And that’s exactly what she does, both in her personal life and in her professional work.

Ada is driven by a hatred of injustice, corruption, and the abuse of power. She believes in respecting and valuing the lived experiences of others, and she’s always pushing for a seat at the table to ensure the voices of the marginalised are heard. Her leadership within the Global Majority Staff Network, as a Board of Governors member, and as Chair of various EDI initiatives has always been about promoting justice and fairness for all. Her tireless work for our international students is a reflection of this passion.  Ada leads with passion, compassion, and authentic empathy.

This year's Black History Month theme resonates with Ada on a deep level. One of her favourite quotes, by Chinua Achebe, speaks to the importance of reclaiming our stories: “Until the lion learns how to write, every story will glorify the hunter.” Ada has spent her life making sure that lions — especially those in her own community — learn to write, to share their stories, and to reclaim the narrative.

Ada’s story is one of triumph, faith, and an unyielding commitment to justice.  She is a reminder that reclaiming our narratives isn’t just about our past — it’s about fighting for a future where everyone’s voice is heard and valued.