• Super Admin
• 06 Mar, 2026

A MUM-of-three with a PhD has achieved a new academic milestone. Dr Uju Chike-Anamdi, who holds a Doctor of Law degree, is set to graduate from the University of Chester with a Master of Arts in Social Work after earning a distinction. Originally from Nigeria and now living in Warrington, Dr Chike-Anamdi said: "I chose to study Social Work because I wanted to be more involved in my community, support people directly, and advocate for marginalised and vulnerable groups. "Promoting social justice has always been important to me, and this interest developed further during my PhD. "I completed my PhD in Law at Trinity College Dublin in 2017, where my research focused on women's representation in corporate environments. "Through that research, I became more aware of the need for advocacy and inclusive practices, and I realised that social work would allow me to make a more practical, hands-on contribution in this area." Her 10,000-word dissertation explored how ineffective regulation can affect the wellbeing of both service users and social workers. She said: "The research gave me deeper insight into how regulatory systems, or the lack of them, can contribute to social injustice for certain groups, including professionals working in the sector. "I hope to publish this work in the future and that it will help inform policy and practice." With the support of senior lecturer Dr Bridget Caffrey, her dissertation is being developed into a paper for publication. Following her final practice placement, Dr Chike-Anamdi was offered a permanent social work position in St Helens. She said: "I'm very happy to have been offered a role with the team where I completed my final placement. "I'm really excited about this opportunity as it will allow me to continue developing my skills while working with a wide range of professionals and supporting people across the community. "It feels like a great next step in my career." In addition to her new role, Dr Chike-Anamdi is co-facilitating lessons at University Centre Warrington with MA course leader Emily Weygang. This builds on experience she gained after completing her PhD, when she worked as a remote teacher on an online LLM (Master of Laws) programme. She said: "I enjoy research, sharing knowledge, and supporting others in their learning, so becoming more involved in the academic community is definitely something I see in my future. "I also hope that my involvement will encourage people from different backgrounds to get involved." Dr Chike-Anamdi described her time at the University of Chester as very positive. She praised the academic and personal support available to students, particularly those balancing family, finances, and other pressures. She also found the University Centre Warrington an ideal study location due to its proximity to home. Reflecting on her achievement, she said: "Completing my MA in Social Work with a distinction has been incredibly fulfilling. "From the start of the course, this was something I really wanted to achieve, and I put in a lot of effort to work towards it. Source: https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/25904273.warrington-academic-celebrates-social-work-degree-success/