Stories

When it comes to improving communities and empowering others, Dr. Prince Ordu has a track record of success that spans two decades.

After graduating with a PhD in Health Services from Walden in 2000, he achieved his lifelong dream of establishing a clean water initiative in his home of Rivers State, Nigeria. The Clean Water Project makes clean water available to Nigeria’s Ozuzu community. This work helped Ordu earn Walden’s Outstanding Alumni Award in 2009.

But Ordu wasn’t satisfied to stop there. In 2016, he founded the Cassava Project in response to food shortages in Nigeria and around the globe. Native to South America, cassava is a drought-tolerant, starchy root vegetable that’s a major source of calories and carbohydrates in developing countries.

Through the project, residents of Rivers State—including single parents and students—are hired to harvest cassava. “These people are highly engaged and empowered as they raise funds to sustain their families and send their children to school while learning how to provide food for their families,” Ordu says.

A resident of Atlanta, Ordu is just as driven about making an impact in the United States. He serves as chief executive officer of Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Leadership, a consulting firm where he and his team support individuals, schools, and organizations in education, management, human resources, and related fields.

Recently, Ordu was inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) and has plans to serve NSLS as a traveling national speaker. “Leadership is part of my DNA, so I am excited for the opportunities ahead,” he says.

Ordu’s passion for inspiring others stems from a deep respect for cultural differences and embracing the inherent worth of all people. “We must respect each other’s cultures and understand that we are all children of God,” he says. “Once we understand this purpose, we can work together to achieve success.”