Tolulope Ajayi: From Nigeria to Canada

Tolulope Ajayi’s journey to Keyano College marked her first time out of Nigeria and on an airplane. She describes the experience as daunting and exhilarating, 11,000 km from home. “Fort McMurray is so much smaller than Lagos, and it was a huge change,” she said. She documented her new surroundings with many photos, including her first encounter with the harsh Canadian winter last year. But what struck her most was the differences in personalities between her homeland and her new Canadian home – the forced congeniality, she jokes, of Canadians was something she wasn’t used to.

Tolulope is a first-year student who moved to Canada to pursue her career goal of becoming a social worker. She had previously studied Social Studies Education in Lagos, Nigeria, and decided to continue her studies at Keyano College in the Social Work Diploma program. One of the deciding factors was Keyano’s affordable fees for international students, and she had the support of her uncle throughout the entire application process.

“I am passionate about becoming a Social Worker as I would like to work with the homeless population, children, and black youth in Canada,” she explains. “There are a lot of people who are reluctant to discuss their mental health struggles – especially in Nigeria –and I think that everyone needs to be supported; it’s good for us to reflect on our attitudes towards mental health continuously.”

She says that there needs to be a better understanding of disabilities and mental illness in Nigeria, as many face discrimination and stigma. “There are a lot of social and economic inequalities back home, and I am invested in turning this around and making a difference in the lives of others.”  

Her advice to international students considering social work is to “read lots and prepare for post-secondary. You should be knowledgeable about a broad range of topics and the role of culture in our society. I think it’s important to be self-educated and be ready to dive deep into topics that challenge your viewpoints and broaden your world perspective.”

Tolulope encourages international students to expand their social circles and not go through their journey alone. Attending college events and Huskies games has helped her make new friends. She also advises students to seek resources to cope with stress, highlighting the importance of time management and staying ahead of assignments. “You need to make sure that you maintain good mental health and seek extra help whenever you need it,” she says.

During her first semester, she secured a part-time job at the Mobile shop. The experience instilled confidence in her, making her more outspoken, improving her communication skills, and teaching her to face challenges. These skills, she believes, directly correlate with those needed to work with future clients in the field of social work.

And amidst all the change, she makes sure that she maintains contact with her friends and family back home, preparing Nigerian cuisine, attending church, and connecting with other members of the Nigerian community in Fort McMurray. These little reminders give her a source of strength throughout her studies. She also credits the Academic Success Centre at Keyano, which assisted her with the APA style guide and research topics, along with the strong relationships with her course instructors, who have offered support and guidance.

Tolulope encourages aspiring international students to be bold and seek a new adventure. She hopes to inspire other students to follow their dreams by sharing her story.