Mr. Ezekwenna is an expert on African community matters; socio-cultural, socio-economics and political dynamics, international relations, globalization and other related issues.

Mr. Ezekwenna was born in under-developed rural village called Awuda-Nnobi in Anambra State, Nigeria.

His parents were very poor, financially. His father was a peasant farmer while his mother was a local palm produce trader.

Nigeria-Biafra Civil War (1967-1970) intermittently interrupted his elementary education. Like other children in the former Republic of Biafra, he attended classes (primary school) under trees, falling school roofs and walls; and occasionally had to run inside the bush to dodge falling bombs and artillery shells. He had to trek over twenty miles everyday to attend the high school closest to home.

Mr. Ezekwenna migrated to the United States in 1980s. He obtained a B.A. in Political Science (minor in Philosophy) from Herbert H. Lehman College of the City University of New York in 1989.

While in college, Mr. Ezekwenna was very active in students’ government – Vice-President of Student Government (CASA), Delegate to overall CUNY students’ body and National Students Association, member of the college Senate and Vice-President of African Students Association. He successfully organized and led students’ peaceful protests to persuade the CUNY Board of Trustees to divest CUNY funds from companies doing business with Apartheid South Africa at that time. Senior leaders of ANC in exile including Mr. Thabo Mbeki honored students’ invitation and spoke at one of those events at the college campus.

Mr. Ezekwenna has extensive experience in the field of human/social services. He has experience both in government and private agencies, as well as knowledge of inter-agency interaction and dynamics. His work experience include, working with difficult teenagers at Non-Secure Detention Group Homes, New York City Dept. of Juvenile Justice. He investigated reported cases of child abuse/neglect, rendered services to families in need and conducted Court-ordered Investigation and Report (I & R) at the New York City Child Welfare Administration (CWA). He also had experience working with AIDS/HIV infected, ex-convicts, homeless, disabled, mentally ill and chemically addicted (M.I.C.A.) clients at transitional housing programs (residence).

Prior to the establishment of Africans In America, Inc. in August 2001, Mr. Ezekwenna had observed gross abuse of the continental African victims of human trafficking by affluent, fellow continental African immigrants living in New York area. He also observed the immigrant African community’s nonchalant attitude towards the plights of the victims in their midst. This is reminiscent of disdainful and abusive treatment victims receive from the perpetrators back in the continent without question by the authority or the community.

He also observed how victims of human trafficking passed through the government bureaucracy in the United States without notice and without getting necessary help. Agencies’ knowledge of the issues was highly deficient at that time.

Prior to the establishment of Africans In America, Inc., Mr. Ezekwenna had assisted two victims to gain freedom. For this, the human-trafficking syndicate in United States and their associates in Nigeria attempted to eliminate him through anonymous petitions to law enforcement agencies. When that failed, they also plotted to assassinate him and plotted to make it appear as armed robbery attack.

Mr. Ezekwenna also observed that there was no organization in the United States that focuses exclusively on neither human-trafficking related issues, nor rendering direct services to the African victims at that time.

“Following unsuccessful plots by human-trafficking syndicate and their associates to eliminate me, as well as to assassinate me and make it appear as armed robbery attack, it is now: ‘To thy tents, Oh! Israel”, said Mr. Ezekwenna.

Upon establishment of Africans In America, Inc., his first task was raising awareness on the complex issues of African victims of human trafficking and advocating for direct services to un-served (and under-served) African victims.

Mr. Ezekwenna advocates for eradication of modern-day slavery through, rendering direct social support services to the victims, protection and enforcement of fundamental rights of every human being, and adequate remuneration of economically disadvantaged African human-trafficking victims for their menial labor and services; that means sometimes crossing path with well-connected and powerful syndicates, their associates, masters and madams in United States and other countries, especially African continent.

Awareness on human-trafficking issues is definitely increasing within the African community and the larger society and the organization (Africans In America, Inc.) has moved to become a think tank organization consulted by government officials and institutions addressing various social issues affecting African immigrant communities in United States.

Mr. Ezekwenna received some training in Conflict/Dispute Mediation and Resolution. His first approach to human-trafficking cases, where permissible, is to attempt to resolve the situation in amicable cultural way. When that fails, the victims are referred to the larger system for recourse.

Recently a Nigeria-based associate of a powerful international human trafficking syndicate operating between Nigeria and United States challenged Mr. Ezekwenna in Nigerian court in an attempt to intimidate him. Mr. Ezekwenna fought back and soundly won a major landmark court judgment; reportedly the first of it’s kind in Nigerian court system.

Mr. Ezekwenna is a sought-after speaker by the media, government agencies, institutions, civil society and corporations.

Mr. Ezekwenna, a vociferous abolitionist and human rights advocate/activist, case management and program development consultant is the founder, Co-Chair and C. E. O. of Africans In America, Inc., a leading human rights organization addressing social issues concerning the larger African immigrant community in United States.