Having worked for 10 years as a medical social worker in Nigeria and having risen to a senior position at the University College Hospital of Ibadan, I wanted to achieve more. Like many Black students, I aspire to have the best possible education and to better myself.
After investigating PhD-level social work programs at various international universities, I reached out to Tamara Sussman, an Associate Professor at McGill’s School of Social Work, who also has a background in medical social work. She believes in my dream and wants to see me thrive in research.
With Prof. Sussman’s endorsement I was selected for the PhD program. She also offered me encouragement and support when I applied for – and won – a Vanier Doctoral Scholarship.
As a Black student from Africa, coming to McGill was not easy. I found the social environment very different and felt isolated from others. There were times when I was very homesick. Despite having the support of my scholarship from McGill, I struggled financially during my first year and was grateful for the stipends I received from my supervisor.
I also hadn’t been prepared for Montreal’s harsh weather – but I have learned to make the best of it, and now go sledding on Mont Royal with friends.
I got involved as a founding member of Black Access McGill (BAM) in the School of Social Work. It provides me and other Black students with a safe landing space and has helped me deal with the challenges of living in a new country. BAM has been a lifeline and has helped me to become more resilient.
Many Black students don’t know how to tell their own story. With BAM we can talk about our dreams and draw on each other’s wisdom for survival. We don’t feel stranded.
BAM is also a space where Black students can interact with Black professors and get guidance on their career plans and feedback on their CVs and proposals. It has given me an opportunity to lead – I serve as the PhD representative on the BAM committee at the School of Social Work.
At McGill, my doctoral work examines the discrepancies between the challenges faced by dementia caregivers in Nigeria and what systems are available to support them. I want this research to lead to the development of policies and practices that are more closely aligned with the realities, insights and needs of the growing population of caregivers in Nigeria.
I hope to complete my PhD in 2025 and to return to Nigeria. My dream for the future is to become a leading gerontologist in Africa and to help establish a national dementia plan for African countries.