Alaba came to Canada in September of 2022 to undergo a master’s degree programme in Applied Cyber Security. While in Nigeria, through the CyberSecurity Institute of Canada (CIC) she shared her resume with various organisations in Canada and got a sponsorship that paid 80% of her school fees, as well as the promise of an internship opportunity that could lead to possible employment. Today, she has completed the master’s degree and internship programme and is employed as a CyberSecurity specialist. Read her full story here:
I came to Canada 6 months prior to the arrival of my four children. Schooling, working, and parenting simultaneously were herculean challenges, but with the help of God, family, friends and kind-hearted people, I was able to navigate these hurdles smoothly. I am well-travelled, so adapting to life in Canada was relatively fast because I already had a broad-minded view of life. After settling down, I joined a local church, met people and volunteered as a youth teacher. Here, I built connections and researched how to engage my children in sports and extracurricular activities. This helped them settle in faster when they arrived, and they adapted well and are thriving well at school and in their social lives.
My transition to the University of New Brunswick was a significant milestone in my journey. I adapted well and established a network of friends. The school also nominated me and another student for a school-sponsored trip to Israel and Jordan. This all-expense paid ten-day trip to Israel was not just a journey for educational, spiritual, and political knowledge, but a transformative experience that broadened my horizons and inspired me to continue my journey with renewed hope and determination.
Furthermore, my passion as a youth advocate led me to register my organization, the Young Leaders Mentorship Programme, here in Canada. I was also motivated to bring my skill and expertise running youth advocacy programmes in Nigeria to my new home. Prior to this time, I had attended several entrepreneurship seminars organized by the YMCA and was featured as a speaker by Ignite on their platforms, which addressed youth and women entrepreneurs. From these platforms and opportunities, I built a business community with like-minded people whose ideas and values aligned with mine. I also worked with volunteers who helped grow this organization. Looking back on my journey, I would have started networking and researching youth advocacy before I landed in Canada. I would have focused not just on the academic aspect of my journey but also on my passion for women and youth empowerment. I would have also leveraged LinkedIn to search for mentors and thought leaders in my passion areas. However, I am thankful for how far I have come, the lessons I have learnt and how I have grown in my journey.
I advise women of colour who are migrants to new cultures to follow their passion. Along their journey, they will meet with many discouragement and naysayers. Still, they should focus on their goals and always leverage opportunities that affirm their vision and passion. Keep moving, speak up, and most importantly, persevere; someday, someone will hear your voice.
Alaba tells her story from New Brunswick, Canada.
