Chioma Bright-Uhara
Communications Lead
Our Gap Closer of the month, Chioma Bright-Uhara, Communications Lead, speaks about her work at the Foundation and what she finds most rewarding about it. “It is the privilege of helping to tell the stories that matter. There is something incredibly fulfilling about crafting a message, putting it out into the world, and seeing it spark curiosity, respect, or action” she says.
Please share your educational and professional background
I hold a Master’s degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance. While my academic foundation is in finance, my professional journey took a different turn. I discovered a deep interest in storytelling and brand building, far removed from numbers and spreadsheets. Over the years, I have built a career working across multiple sectors including FMCG, telecommunications, and banking, helping to shape brand narratives, drive visibility, and connect brands with their audiences in meaningful ways.
What inspired you to pursue a career in the development sector?
To be honest, I did not set out to build a career in the development sector. I stumbled into it, and at the beginning, I was not sure I belonged here. From the outside looking in, I had a narrow view of what impact in this space could look like.
But that perception changed quickly. Working in the sector has opened my eyes to the scale of transformation that is possible when the right ideas, people, and platforms come together. In just two years, I have gone from being doubtful to becoming one of its strongest advocates. The ability to contribute to meaningful, systems-level change has made this one of the most fulfilling phases of my professional life.
What do you do at the Foundation?
I lead the Communications team at the Foundation, working with a group of brilliant, purpose-driven individuals who are passionate about shaping narratives and amplifying impact. My role is both strategic and hands-on: from developing communication strategies to overseeing project execution, managing internal and external stakeholders, and ensuring message consistency across all platforms. Our work cuts across every team, so collaboration is key. I see my role as both a connector and amplifier, ensuring that the impact being made on the ground is seen, understood, and celebrated.
What does your typical day look like?
No two days are ever quite the same, and that is one of the things I enjoy most about my role. On any given day, I am in deep in strategic thinking refining ideas on how best to communicate our impact. There is also a great deal of project oversight involved: reviewing content, managing timelines, and ensuring we are on track with deliverables. Collaboration plays a big part in my day as well. I am constantly engaging with colleagues across different teams to align priorities and maintain cohesion in our messaging. And then there are those moments spent brainstorming campaigns, exploring new storytelling angles, and figuring out how to bring our work to life across different platforms. It is a fast-paced, ever-evolving role that demands both structure and flexibility, but that’s exactly what makes it so rewarding.
What makes the work that we do at the Foundation unique?
For me, it is our intentional approach to sustainability. Many development interventions struggle to outlast the enthusiasm that started them but here, sustainability is part of the design. We do not just focus on quick wins. We think long-term, about institutions, about systems, about people. That mindset ensures that the work we do today continues to deliver value well into the future.
What do you find most rewarding about your work?
It is the privilege of helping to tell the stories that matter. There is something incredibly fulfilling about crafting a message, putting it out into the world, and seeing it spark curiosity, respect, or action.
It is in those quiet moments when someone comes across one of our messages and says, “Wow, I did not know this kind of work was happening to transform public service delivery,”—that I’m reminded why I do what I do.