IU Northwest professors bring African entrepreneurship and human rights expertise to UN
Two faculty members presented on economic development and legal theory at the UN General Assembly, citing informal economies and gender apartheid.
By Marco Whitaker ·
Two professors from Indiana University Northwest recently represented the university at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.
Dr. Bessie House-Soremekun and Dr. Anja Matwijkiw presented to international leaders on issues ranging from African economic growth to international legal standards.
House-Soremekun, Chair of the Department of Social Sciences, spoke at the High Level Global Executive Roundtable in September. Her presentation focused on how entrepreneurship and partnerships can support communities in Africa.
She noted that more than 80 percent of the workforce in Africa operates in the informal economy. House-Soremekun explained that these workers are already entrepreneurial and need support to expand their businesses.
The professor has built at least five entrepreneurial centers during her career. These centers have included business training programs that help individuals start new ventures and grow existing ones.
Her work also involves renewable energy. She described a partnership with a company that holds patents for large turbines. The goal of such projects is to provide electrical power to rural communities in Africa, a region that still faces challenges in ensuring all citizens have access to electricity.
House-Soremekun stated that her work aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. These goals center on clean energy and economic growth. She described the invitation to speak at the assembly as a humbling experience.
Matwijkiw, a Professor of Ethics and Human Rights in the Department of Philosophy, has worked with UN-associated organizations for years. Her recent work focuses on gender apartheid and whether this concept should be codified as a crime against humanity, similar to racial apartheid.
She is currently analyzing how to define gender apartheid in an international treaty. Matwijkiw said this process requires careful consideration to avoid hurting victims' chances at justice. Her first research manuscript on this topic has been accepted for publication in the Global Community Yearbook of International Law and Jurisprudence.
Both professors aim to bring their international experience back to the campus. House-Soremekun hopes to create exchange programs for students to visit Kenya, Nigeria, or South Africa. Matwijkiw wants to involve students in local work related to UN initiatives, such as the Declaration on the Human Rights of People of African Descent.
House-Soremekun holds three Yoruba Chieftaincy titles, one of which was bestowed by King Michael Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo of Nigeria. She has published seven books and received grant awards nearing $1.5 million.
Matwijkiw became a delegate for the European Public Law Organization in 2025. She has also published research with the UN University and served as a delegate for the International Progress Organization in Vienna.
