NIGERIAN PEPPER SELLER BECOMES FIRST AFRICAN TO BAG PhD IN A CANADIAN UNIVERSITY

A Nigerian woman, Adeola Olubamiji, is being celebrated by Nigerians home and abroad after sharing her rags-to grace story dripping with unyielding resilience. Olubamiji, a native of Ijare in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State, became the first African to bag a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada.

In a Facebook post on June 6 which has over 2,600 likes and has been shared about 500 times with over 200 comments, the Ibadan-bred woman shared her striking story that she once hawked pepper on the streets. “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. I went to public primary and secondary school(s) in Ibadan and attended OOU and studied Physics,” she began.

Going further, the Lead Metallurgist/Additive Manufacturing Engineer at Burloak Technologies Inc. now, wrote: “Proceeded 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 three year scholarship (later extended to four 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!!!”