Bubbling over with business ideas

Canada marks Black History Month in February. You can visit our Black History Month webpage for more stories about Black people in our community, to learn about upcoming events and discussions, and to find cultural and educational resources put together by our Royal Roads community.

Learn more about the Master of Global Management program.

It wasn’t until she came to Canada that Rita Akinwalere says she felt real validation for her work.

The Master of Global Management student is the most recent recipient of the Award for Diversity and Community Building. The award created by MA in Tourism Management alum Donneil McNab in 2020, celebrates Black excellence within the Royal Roads University community.

"This award makes me see that what I do matters,” says Akinwalere, who is committed to empowering young girls in northern Nigeria in business and entrepreneurship.

Born in northern Nigeria to parents from the western region, Akinwalere's entrepreneurial spirit emerged early at the age of eight, propelled by her passion for cooking. Her inaugural venture involved using her lunch money to make a unique soda to sell to her friends and neighbours. Her dedication to business followed from there. 

Following the loss of her father when she was 12, Akinwalere shouldered family responsibilities, navigating tight profit margins by retailing clothing from her mom's thrift store. This period not only refined her business acumen but also immersed her in community work.

“People were ready to help me back then, and I felt a sense of wanting to be giving back,” she says.

Akinwalere spent nearly 15 years as a fashion instructor, business manager and teacher in Nigeria, where she in part, taught 10- to 16-year-old girls essential life and vocational skills.

In August 2022, Akinwalere moved to Canada where she continues to support the children she left behind, making a difference through collecting clothes and shoes during visits to thrift stores in Victoria.

Akinwalere is driven by passion and a strong commitment to education. Her goal is straightforward: to be remembered for making a positive impact on lives. 

"I want people to appreciate whatever situation they are in,” she says. “There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Looking forward to her March 2024 graduation, Akinwalere believes she gained lasting value and sense of community in the MGM Program. "I’m going to be pulling from it for a lifetime.”