{"id":49450,"date":"2026-10-06T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-06T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ocs.com\/uk\/?p=49450"},"modified":"2026-10-05T20:52:05","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T19:52:05","slug":"black-history-month-honouring-our-communities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ocs.com\/uk\/news\/black-history-month-honouring-our-communities\/","title":{"rendered":"Black History Month: Honouring Our Communities: Chioma Fiyebor\u2019s TRUE Story"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n “There\u2019s no limit to what I can do.” <\/p>\n

\n \"avatar\"\n
\n \n Chioma Fiyebor<\/svg>\n <\/a>\n

\n ESG Analyst <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n

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For Chioma Fiyebor<\/a>, Black History Month<\/a> is an opportunity to recognise the people, experiences and communities that have helped shape who we are, while thinking about how we can create opportunities for others.<\/p>\n

From studying agricultural economics in Nigeria, to discovering a passion for technology and developing her expertise in sustainability and data, Chioma has built a diverse career.<\/p>\n

Now an ESG Analyst<\/strong> with OCS UK&I<\/strong>, she uses her experience to help shape decisions that affect the environment<\/a>, colleagues<\/a> and communities<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI support the business in measuring and having an accurate and clear view of our environmental and social value impact,\u201d Chioma explains. \u201cThis intelligence-led data helps shape decision-making across OCS UK&I.\u201d<\/p>\n

Passionate about moving ESG beyond strategy and turning data into action, she looks for changes in performance, asks questions about the root causes, and helps senior leaders identify practical, sustainable ways forward. By bringing together data from across the business, Chioma helps identify where progress is being made, where improvements are needed and where action can have the greatest impact.<\/p>\n

This includes looking at the social value<\/a> created across OCS contracts, from apprenticeship<\/a> opportunities that help young people begin their careers to initiatives supporting people returning to employment<\/a>. By measuring and understanding this impact, Chioma helps the business see how its work is benefiting people and communities, as well as where there are opportunities to do more.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n

\n \n \n \n <\/g>\n <\/svg>\n
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\n \u201cI see sustainability as not just about preserving and protecting our environment, but as also supporting people and communities.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n \"avatar\"\n
\n \n Chioma Fiyebor<\/svg>\n <\/a>\n

\n ESG Analyst <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n

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The Power of Representation<\/h3>\n

Chioma joined OCS in 2024, and she says one of the most significant parts of her experience has been \u2018finding my voice\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cFeeling confident that your opinions are welcomed, your voice is heard, and your viewpoints are respected is incredibly empowering,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

For Chioma, visible and authentic representation is an important part of Black History Month<\/strong>. She believes it is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of black people throughout history, recognise the progress that\u2019s been made, while acknowledging the challenges that can still exist.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople of colour are people beyond their colour,\u201d she says. \u201cRegardless of our heritage, race or culture everyone should be judged by their character, their competence, and by what they contribute\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe should all have the freedom to equally contribute knowledge, ideas and share our unique experiences without feeling we have to change or adapt who we fundamentally are just to \u2018belong\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n

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A Career Built On Opportunity<\/h3>\n

Chioma\u2019s career has been shaped by unexpected opportunities that she made the very most of.<\/p>\n

After studying agricultural economics, she took part in an IT and software development training programme in Nigeria. She secured an internship with an IT firm after achieving outstanding results and coming first among her fellow trainees.<\/p>\n

This led her to teaching children and young people robotics and coding, before moving into business management within a sustainability and environmental company. She decided to specialise further, studying for an MSc in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence<\/strong> at the University of Suffolk<\/a>, in Ipswich.<\/p>\n

Graduating in 2023, she later completed an MBA at the University of East London<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy knowledge of the environment, interest in data, and my understanding of the business performance and how these need to work together, all fit really nicely,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

That now informs her work at OCS and her involvement with CHROMA<\/a>, the Race<\/strong>, Ethnicity <\/strong>and Faith Colleague Network<\/strong>, where she contributes to conversations and initiatives around promoting equity, diversity<\/strong> and inclusion<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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The Woman Who Showed Her What Was Possible<\/h3>\n

Chioma\u2019s is very clear on who her first and most significant role model was – her mother, Tessy Osunsanmi<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

She watched her mother build a career within the male-dominated construction industry, managing building and construction contracts and working on sites where she was often the only woman.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe taught me work and business ethics from a very young age,\u201d Chioma says. \u201cI saw her being the only woman on sites and yet still carrying the family along. Doing all these great things and doing them better than most.\u201d<\/p>\n

That lesson her mother taught her have left Chioma with a lasting belief:<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n

\n \n \n \n <\/g>\n <\/svg>\n
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\n \u201cThere\u2019s no limit to what I can do. It doesn\u2019t matter which group dominates any field. If you want to do it, you can do it.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n \"avatar\"\n
\n \n Chioma Fiyebor<\/svg>\n <\/a>\n

\n ESG Analyst <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n

\n
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Chioma has drawn further inspiration from people including Maya Angelou<\/a>, Dr Martin Luther King Jr<\/a>., and Barack<\/a> and Michelle Obama<\/a>.<\/p>\n

She particularly admires Dr Okonjo-Iweala<\/a>, <\/strong>Director-General of the World Trade Organisation<\/a>, for the way she has remained authentically herself while working at the highest international levels.<\/p>\n

\u201cDr Okonjo-Iweala has continued to wear African clothing throughout her career and has succeeded without leaving her cultural identity at the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe refused to be stifled. Instead, she thrived, and she was respected for what she brought to the table.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n

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Honouring Our Communities<\/h3>\n

Chioma believes OCS has made real progress in its equity, diversity and inclusion commitments in the time she has been part of the business, and wants to be part of its continued progress.<\/p>\n

She highlights how diversity strengthens an organisation and is a key part of its success:<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople from diverse backgrounds bring different knowledge, perspectives and ways of approaching a problem.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe solutions, the strategies, the implementation are more robust when informed by people with wide ranging experiences who are given equitable opportunities to contribute. All of that builds a stronger business that better serves its colleagues, customer and communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chioma\u2019s perspective reflects the focus of Honouring Our Communities: recognising the people who shape us<\/a>, valuing the perspectives they bring, and creating opportunities for others to contribute.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, it began with the example my mother set and, reflecting on all that she achieved, reminds me that by giving people opportunities can change what they believe is possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n

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\n \n \n \"Everyone\u2019s\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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\n Everyone\u2019s Journey Is Shaped By The People Who Inspire Us <\/h2>\n \n\n Explore Our Colleague Stories <\/a> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chioma Fiyebor shares her career journey and the importance of representation, opportunity and community this Black History Month.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":80,"featured_media":10000029180,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[303,359,474,54,422,19],"tags":[53,479],"country":[237,405,267],"class_list":["post-49450","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-esg","category-history-heritage","category-international-days","category-our-people","category-true-stories","category-news-type","tag-our-people","tag-true-stories","country-ireland","country-scotland","country-uk"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nBlack History Month: Chioma on Representation and Opportunity - OCS - UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Chioma Fiyebor shares her career journey and the importance of representation, opportunity and community this Black History Month.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ocs.com\/uk\/news\/black-history-month-honouring-our-communities\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Black History Month: Honouring Our Communities: Chioma Fiyebor\u2019s TRUE Story\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Chioma Fiyebor shares her career journey and the importance of representation, opportunity and community this Black History Month.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ocs.com\/uk\/news\/black-history-month-honouring-our-communities\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"OCS - 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