The University of Southampton has presented its first-ever Outstanding Contribution Alumni Award to Mfon Ekpo, a Nigerian leadership consultant and founder of The Discovery Centre. The award was given in recognition of her contributions to leadership development and social impact across multiple continents.

Ekpo, a graduate of the institution, returned to the university two decades after her studies to receive the award and deliver the commencement speech at the 2024 graduation ceremony. The university described the award as the highest honour it bestows on former students.

In her address, Ekpo reflected on her personal and professional journey, referencing a medical diagnosis at birth that predicted developmental difficulties. “I was told I had to play the hand I was dealt in life,” she said. “Until one day I realised I didn’t have to. I could throw those cards back onto life’s table and demand a new hand.”

She urged graduates to challenge the narratives they have inherited and consider alternate possibilities. “Daring will take you places that common sense doesn’t know exist,” she said.

Ekpo was previously selected for the inaugural Mandela Washington Fellowship under the Obama administration’s Young African Leaders Initiative and was named a Goodwill Ambassador and Honorary Citizen of the State of Arkansas. She served on the President’s Advisory Council of the John Maxwell Team and participated in leadership projects across Latin America and Africa.

Her organisation, The Discovery Centre, focuses on behavioural transformation and leadership development. It runs training programmes for professionals and entrepreneurs and is behind “The Blueprint of How,” a conference aimed at aligning personal vision with sustainable impact.

The University of Southampton counts several notable figures among its alumni, including Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web, and Formula 1 engineer Adrian Newey. Ekpo’s recognition places her among the university’s most celebrated graduates.