FDR Inspired Ability Leader Knows Adversity Holds the Seed of Greater Benefit: Meet Eno Okpo, CEO of Enabled to Enable International Foundation
As part of our Black History Month feature stories, meet Eno Okpo, the inspiring CEO of Enabled to Enable International Foundation, who is transforming lives and advocating for inclusion worldwide.
Tell us about your journey (both personal and professional):
Born in Oyubia, Oron – Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, I grew up and completed my primary and secondary education there. Later, I moved to Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria, for my university education, where I earned a Diploma in Applied Economics and completed a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. As the last of seven children, I was raised in a home where my parents (both teachers) placed a high value on education above material possessions and prioritized helping those less fortunate, even at the expense of personal comfort.
I began my career as a volunteer with Positive Care Development Foundation in 2005. Later, I received training from Family Health International (now FHI360) as a Project Officer delivering care and support services for orphans and vulnerable children under the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative Nigeria - Orphans and Vulnerable Children (GHAIN-OVC) Project in Calabar, Nigeria. The training I received and the lessons I learned from the project built my capacity in non-profit project programming, efficient and effective resource utilization, and maximizing impact. These principles continue to influence my work and values as the CEO of Enabled to Enable International Foundation.
What pivotal experiences shaped your current path?
I was raised by generous and compassionate parents who instilled in me the values of gratitude and kindness in all circumstances. Growing up with a physical disability and losing my father at a young age gave me firsthand experience of what it meant to struggle. Without a mentor and lacking basic life skills, I endured abuse and discrimination throughout my secondary and post-secondary school years, which deeply affected my self-image and outlook on life. I was particularly concerned about children with special needs who were isolated and denied education, as well as young women with disabilities who lacked access to meaningful jobs and were left to beg on the streets, exposed to harsh conditions and abuse.
Rather than focusing on my challenges, I was grateful for the opportunity to be educated. This gratitude inspired me to start a non-profit organization in 2007 – Enabled to Enable International Foundation. The organization’s mission is to empower women and girls with disabilities and other vulnerable populations through advocacy, training programs, and support services, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to their communities and the world.
It was a slow and challenging journey. Ninety-nine percent of the people around me didn’t believe in my dream, I lacked access to funding to implement project ideas, and I faced personal health challenges and internal struggles. However, one day while volunteering at the American Spaces in Calabar, I watched a documentary about President Franklin Roosevelt of the United States. For the first time, I identified with someone who defied the challenges of a physical disability and achieved greatness—not just for himself, but for an entire nation and, by extension, the world. That moment changed my mindset and gave me the drive to follow my purpose, knowing I was unstoppable. It remains one of the most inspiring experiences of my life.
What are the most valuable lessons you’ve learned about yourself?
The most valuable lessons I’ve learned are that every adversity holds the seed of a greater benefit, if only you change your perception of the challenges you face. Nobody owes you anything, and not everyone will believe in you; sometimes, you have to be your own cheerleader. When you beat the drum of success, the world will come dancing.
I’ve also learned that success lies in thinking beyond yourself—finding a human need and meeting it. The extent of your achievement is determined by the richness of your mindset, the boundaries of your imagination, your level of gratitude, and your persistence in pursuing and maximizing your purpose.
What drives your desire to contribute and make a difference?
I’ve been there. I know what it feels like not to have, to barely have enough, yet hold on to hope that things will somehow work out. I want to be the person I needed when I was younger for as many people as possible, letting them know that their greatest disadvantage can be their biggest strength. Their future isn’t ahead of them but within them. With daily steps toward their goals, anything is achievable.
I believe everyone needs a dose of kindness. Making a difference in people’s lives is my way of honoring those who helped me along the way, changing the narrative about circumstances that shaped me, and showing others that they are more than their physical appearance. Everyone is valuable and has something unique to contribute to the world. Sometimes, people just need someone to help them see their own greatness and potential. Together, we can make a difference.
It’s also my way of honoring the legacy of my parents—especially my late father, who taught me how to live beyond my disabilities, and my mother, who ensured I had access to education even when children with disabilities were often hidden or isolated at home.
If you could go back and advise your younger self, what would it be?
You don’t need anyone’s permission or approval to achieve your goals or become who you’re meant to be. Never allow someone else’s negative assumptions about you to become your reality—brush them off and let them go. You are unique and rare, perfectly designed for a purpose the world needs. The challenges you face will only deepen your roots. Don’t let people’s opinions or life’s difficulties confine you. Think big, dream bigger—you are made for more.
How can GlobalMindED support leaders like yourself in achieving your goals and aspirations?
GlobalMindED can support leaders by providing platforms like this to share our stories, connecting young people with us for mentorship, sharing our work with donor communities, and supporting our projects whenever possible.
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