A former Nigerian pepper hawker took to her Facebook timeline to share her success story! Bola who is the last child out of five revealed how she worked hard to become the first black PhD holder in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan… read below…
As the 5th child of 5, I always had to wait for my turn. I was the
last, a girl child and raised by a mother who is farmer and a father who
has little, I hawked pepper on the streets of Ibadan as early as age 10
to help my mum. Went to public primary and secondary school in Ibadan.
Attended OOU and studied Physics. Because I had a 2.1, it opened the
door for me to proceed to Finland for a Masters Degree in Biomedical
Engineering. During this masters degree, I worked part-time
as a cleaner and did this after my Masters as well. Out of
determination, I applied to over 100 schools for my PhD and finally got a
full 3 year scholarship (later extended to 4 years scholarship) at
University of Saskatchewan, Canada to pursue a PhD in Biomedical
Engineering. While in that PhD program, I worked part-time as a makeup
artist, teaching assistant, braided hair and fix weaves to make extra
money.Today I walked the
stage as the first black person to bag a PhD in Biomedical Engineering
from University of Saskatchewan, Canada!!! I walked this stage for you
Mama Africa and for my Motherland Nigeria!!! I walked the stage for all
of you black women disrespected and looked down on!!!! I walked for all
of you from my ghetto hood “Mokola”, Ibadan. I walked for all OSU
students and ex-students that got that look from people who think we are
not brilliant!! I walked for all of you Africans in Finland wondering
what is next for you!!
Specially, I walked for you my parents.
siblings and extended family in fulfillment of your dreams! Specially, I
walked the stage for you my late sister Omoleye Olubamiji and my late
mentor Ayodele Olatunbosun. Today I walked for my future husband and my
unborn children who patiently waited for me to fulfill my dreams so that
he can have a wife he will be proud of and they can have a role model
to look up to. I walked for all immigrants and all young adults who
strived everyday chasing their dreams!!! I walked in celebration of the
unfailing love of my first and one truly true love Jesus Christ (in you I
walk in you I live and in you I have had and will continue to have my
being)!!!
Be bold, be innovative, be different, be you, be
everything you want to be but remember to put God first!!! Let no man,
upbringing, money, circumstance, colorism, past mistakes, institution,
company, partner, background, let nothing tell you you can’t do it. Go
smart! Go hard!! Go for Gold!!! Go with God!!! Just Get Going!!!!! #Grad2017 #PhDConvocation #UofS