In conversation: Dame Elizabeth Anionwu tells her story
Intro
In celebration of International Women’s Day, Emeritus Professor of Nursing Dame Elizabeth Anionwu was the special guest of the Black Women’s Network at the University of West London’s (UWL) Weston Hall.
Article body
With this year’s theme ‘inspire inclusion’ in mind, Dame Elizabeth discussed her life and career, in conversation with UWL Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences Dr Bernadine Idowu. She also spoke about being part of King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s coronation, an experience she said taught her the real meaning of the expression "my phone blew up."
Introducing her, Sara Raybould, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education and Student Experience), said:
I am delighted to welcome Dame Elizabeth – I have always been a great fan, and she has long been a great supporter of UWL.”
Born in 1947 to a single mother who was studying Classics at Cambridge, Dame Elizabeth spent her early life in a children’s home run by Catholic nuns, before going to live with her mother aged nine. The kindness of one nun looking after Elizabeth, who suffered from eczema and asthma, inspired her to become a nurse.
Dame Elizabeth recalled a happy childhood where no one ever addressed the issue of race with her.
I knew I was different – as a small child I once washed my face ten times to try and become white like my friends,”
she remembered. It was not until the early 1970s that she met her father and embraced her Nigerian heritage and identity.
As a young adult in 1960s Britain, Elizabeth was angry that her mother could not achieve her potential in what was a male dominated society.
I resolved to not be blocked by societal issues and to achieve what I wanted,”
she recalled.
Her motivation for becoming the UK’s first sickle cell specialist nurse was coming across the disease while working in the community.
There was no information about it during my training and I felt angry that I couldn’t help families I was visiting,”
she added.
A trail blazer for Black women in the UK, Dame Elizabeth is keen to engage with the next generation, as demonstrated by her eagerness to take as many questions from students as possible and talk to them over refreshments. She shared her experiences as a Black woman, women who have inspired her and guided her journey, and of course the audience wanted to know all about her moment in the royal spotlight.
When the call came from the Palace to ask her to take part in the Coronation, Elizabeth said initially she ignored it as she didn’t recognise the number. Describing herself as both nosey and a lover of history, she explained:
This was history in the making and if you are including me, I am accepting.
My phone was off during the day and when I switched it back on everyone and his uncle had got in touch! I hadn’t realised the impact it would have - I even went viral in Nigeria!”
Discussing what it means to have women in leadership roles, Dame Elizabeth said:
I am aware of how strong women have got over the years when confronted with misogyny and racism. Things have got better but there’s a way to go still.”
Second year Social Work student Susannah, who asked the question about leadership, described Dame Elizabeth as inspirational:
She was raised in a different world and the behaviour, courage and perseverance of people like her is what paved the way for me to work in social services as a Black woman.”
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