The opportunity to get a university education at McGill would not have been possible if not for the McGill Mastercard Foundation (MCF) Scholars Program. When I left my hometown of Nsukka, Nigeria in the summer of 2015 as an MCF Scholar and international student, I did not fully realize the incredibly life-changing opportunity ahead of me. McGill is a giant-of-an-institution, and I feel very grateful to the McGill MCF Advisors, professors, staff, mentors, fellow students, and families who supported me and contributed to my positive experience. In the beginning, when I freshly arrived at McGill, a friend told me to make maximum use of all the opportunities afforded at McGill and in the MCF Program. Over the course of my four years, l did just that.
Already I was a curious person, so I pursued an interdisciplinary program that allowed me to take diverse courses in the fields of economics, African studies, social entrepreneurship, international development, and French language courses. I was profoundly transformed by the academic rigor and quality of the courses. For the most part, they allowed a nuanced understanding of the world, including the intercultural competencies that I needed to thrive.
All through my time, I was passionately involved in the community, including in the McGill MCF community. As a member of the McGill Ambassadors for Campus & Community Engagement (ACCE) program, a skills training program that emphasizes campus and community involvement, leadership, and creating meaningful personal connections, I was empowered through experiential learning. In 2016, I got elected to the position of Scholars Council Representative where I learned the tenets of servant leadership. Following this, I served as an inaugural- and the first student-member of the MCF Learning Partnership Advisory Group (LPAG) where, for two years, I was an Advisor on education, research, and youth employment. Overall, these experiences allowed me to partake in diverse development projects and initiatives at McGill and internationally in Africa, the Americas, and Europe.
During my studies, I also spent time at other universities through a study exchange and Enriched Educational Opportunities (EEO). I spent a semester at Sciences Po Paris, France, completing a bilingual certificate program in “Business & Economics”. Likewise, during my final year, I visited Universidad Rafael Landívar, Guatemala and participated in a field course where I acquired knowledge of sustainable agricultural practices and food security issues. These opportunities expanded my horizons and prepared my successful transition to the workplace.
In September 2020, I returned to McGill as a staff member and serve as Program Administrator for the Mastercard Foundation Transitions Project (MCF-TP) at McGill. Launched in Summer 2020, the MCF-TP provides opportunities to facilitate the transition of MCF Scholars and Alumni into the workforce for impact across Africa and globally where they live. Working at McGill and in the MCF-TP has been a rewarding and fulfilling experience. I get to support fellow MCF Scholars and Alumni through the four pillars (Experiential Learning, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development, and Mentorship) of the Transitions Project, and live the MCF Scholars Program’s ethos of giving back to the community.