Salford lecturer named Diversity and Inclusion Champion at national nursing workforce awards
Lecturer in Adult Nursing, Chidinma Victory Oforji (Victory), has been named winner at the national Nursing Times Workforce Awards for her collective works and leadership of intentional inclusion and decolonial changes through lived experiences and voluntary leaderships, including her joint work with Dr Suryia Nayak on the Global Majority Coaching and Mentoring Programme.
The Global Majority Coaching and Mentoring Programme and the Global Majority Leadership Certification Programme (with Jo Sullivan, Associate Professor/Reader, Maureen McMahon and Ruth Potts) also saw the University shortlisted in the ‘Best Employer for Inclusion and Diversity’ category.
These programmes were developed as parts of the ongoing works, to develop decolonial and inclusive programs to tackle the persistent underrepresentation and career stagnation of Black and Global Majority nurses in NHS leadership roles.
Despite making up a significant part of the workforce, these nurses are often overlooked for progression due to systemic barriers, racism, lack of mentorship, underrepresentation, and economic inequality. In partnership with NHS trusts, the team developed practical leadership training and mentorship. Outcomes include increased access, career growth, and a growing pipeline of diverse future leaders across NHS trusts.
Victory’s fellow Lecturer in Adult Nursing, Joshi Prabhu, was also shortlisted at the awards for the ‘Nurses Beyond Borders’ podcast series (available now on YouTube and Spotify) – a first-of-its-kind UK-based platform dedicated exclusively to internationally educated nurse academics. Through powerful storytelling, the podcast addresses issues of race, identity, systemic inequality, and cultural transition in nursing and higher education.
On her win, Victory said: “Some days, when I have increased workload, I ask myself if any of these interventions help, but seeing the smiles on the faces of students, practice colleagues who benefits from these interventions, makes me feel fulfilled, living up to my life motto: Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.”
The Nursing Times Workforce Awards unites nursing professionals to tackle workforce challenges and honour those making a real difference in recruitment, retention, wellbeing, inclusion, and patient care. Victory’s win follows a record breaking year for the Nursing and Midwifery team who were also shortlisted 20 times at the Student Nursing Times Awards.
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