Dr. Fredrick Chukwuemeka Iloegbune is a passionate leader, humanitarian, and children’s rights advocate with over two decades of experience in the health and social care sector. He holds a PhD in Health and Social Work and currently serves as the CEO of OGEMEK Charity Foundation, a non-profit organization headquartered in Enugu, Nigeria.

Dr. Fredrick’s journey has been anything but ordinary. In the early 2000s, he served as a missionary with the 1000 Missionary Movement in the Philippines, ministering to orphans and underprivileged children. In September 2003, he moved to the United Kingdom to study Christian-Muslim Relations at Newbold College of Higher Education. That move not only deepened his academic knowledge but also allowed him to develop hands-on experience in care and social work. Over the years, he worked in various roles, from Care Assistant and Senior Support Worker to Assistant Manager and Student Experience Coordinator, building a career centered on compassion, support, and empowerment.

Dr. Fredrick knows firsthand what it feels like to lose loved ones too soon having grown up as an orphan himself and later raising his nieces and nephews after they lost their parents. Driven by his personal story, Dr. Fredrick’s work is deeply personal. His calling has always been to create spaces where vulnerable children are not just given aid but also empowered to thrive and live with hope. This conviction guided his doctoral research, where he explored the role of Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) in supporting orphans and vulnerable children in Nigeria, particularly those affected by HIV/AIDS.

In August 2008, he began formal theological training with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, where he later served as a minister. While this journey brought challenges, it also revealed to him the deeper meaning of “pure religion”, to care for the fatherless and vulnerable (James 1:27). These experiences became the bedrock of his decision to return home and establish OGEMEK Charity Foundation, which began its work in 2015 and was officially registered in 2021.

Today, OGEMEK is more than a charity. Under Dr. Fredrick’s incredible leadership, it has become a movement that restores hope, dignity, and economic independence to those it serves. The Foundation’s approach goes beyond giving, it empowers people to support their families, participate in decision making, and contribute to stronger and better communities.

Beyond his organizational role, Dr. Fredrick is an enthusiastic children’s champion campaigner with UNICEF UK, a committed researcher focusing on welfare and social policy, and a passionate teacher, preacher, and seminar facilitator. His professional interests lie in policy and programming for vulnerable groups, particularly within Christian charity contexts.

Outside of work, Dr. Fredrick enjoys sports like football, volleyball, badminton and bowling. He’s also fond of long walks in parks, especially when the sun is out. He is a keen user of social media, and he often leverages it for networking, ministry, and advocacy.

For Dr. Fredrick, his life’s mission is simple yet profound: to live out the words of Christ in Matthew 25:35–40 by serving “the least of these”, ensuring that children and vulnerable people everywhere can live with dignity, opportunity, and hope.