Graduate students from across all disciplines submitted nomination letters in support of their supervisors, highlighting the meaningful impact these faculty members have had on their academic journeys as well as their personal development.

This award recognizes professors who demonstrate exceptional dedication to graduate education through their roles as supervisors and research mentors. Sponsored by the Office of the Vice-President (Research, Innovation and International) and Graduate Studies, the award underscores the significant and lasting influence that strong mentorship can have on graduate student success.

This Year鈥檚 Recipients

Below are the recipients (in alphabetical order), along with selected excerpts from their students鈥� nomination letters:

Shireen Hassim, Canada Research Chair in Gender and African Politics

• 鈥淪hireen advises and guides with integrity and consistency. Her expectations are clear, her commitments unwavering, and her support steadfast. In a system where graduate students often feel invisible or expendable, Shireen鈥檚 mentorship communicates something profoundly different: that our ideas matter, our struggles are legitimate, and our growth is worth sustained investment.鈥�

• 鈥淭hroughout my time working with her, Prof. Hassim has shown me, in countless ways, what it means to be an exceptional mentor. Her guidance is always detailed and thoughtful, tailored to my challenges and questions, and she continually fosters a supportive environment that makes me feel truly seen and valued. Her belief in me has made a real difference in my journey.鈥�

• 鈥淧rof. Hassim鈥檚 sponsorship of my participation in the doctoral workshop at Makerere University (gave me) the opportunity to workshop my doctoral research with senior scholars and doctoral colleagues, receive detailed, constructive feedback and, most importantly, build lasting professional networks with doctoral colleagues (who have) become an important part of my academic and professional development.鈥�

Speakers shared candid reflections on navigating university life, confronting systemic barriers, and finding strength through community. Their stories highlighted the importance of representation, mentorship, and visibility in fostering Black student success.

Student speakers Dylan Ntemgwa and Dupe Adesoji encouraged peers to pursue excellence beyond grades by engaging in research, volunteering, and leadership opportunities.

Faculty members also highlighted the value of informal settings for building authentic relationships and breaking down barriers that persist in traditional academic environments. Journalism professor听Adrian Harewood听spoke about overcoming academic challenges through meaningful relationships. Alumna Petra Michael offered a powerful account of her experience transitioning to Canada as an international student, describing how the support of Black faculty mentors, including Professor Daniel Tetteh Osabu鈥慘le helped her adjust and succeed despite challenges related to accent-based bias and cultural adaptation.

Students responded enthusiastically to the event and expressed how deeply the event resonated. Many shared that hearing from Black faculty and alumni made academic pathways feel more accessible and helped them feel seen and supported.

One international student noted that attending helped him break out of isolation and make new connections. Another said Petra鈥檚 story mirrored his own experience of feeling academically strong yet judged for his accent, underscoring the need for spaces that validate Black students鈥� experiences. One student noted, 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 even know we had these Black professors at 杏吧原创. Seeing us represented at all levels is incredibly important.鈥�

The Meet and Greet reflects 杏吧原创鈥檚 ongoing commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, aligning with initiatives such as the Scarborough Charter. Faculty emphasized that informal gatherings like this help break down barriers and create space for authentic, community鈥慴uilding conversations.

The event was supported by the Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic) and the Black Inclusion Working Group, with coordination by听Professor Nduka Otiono, Faculty Advisor on Anti鈥態lack Racism and Black Inclusion and Director of the Institute of African Studies. Kirsten Maramba, Computer Science Honours and Co鈥憃p student, served as a research assistant.

For upcoming events and initiatives, visit the听杏吧原创 University Anti鈥態lack Racism and Black Inclusion website.

听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听Faculty that attended event
By Kirsten Maramba

Led by听, the initiative addressed the cultural and institutional barriers faced by women scholars by providing participants with access to resources including research supervision, seminars, placements in Canada and West Africa, leadership development, and networking opportunities.

Released February 10, 2026, this policy-focused report examines how African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) communities are positioned within Canada鈥檚 artificial intelligence ecosystem. Drawing on data analysis, policy review, and critical insight, the report assesses AI labour markets, innovation strategies, governance frameworks, and equity outcomes.

This volunteer-driven, unfunded research project, initiated in April 2025, is intended for policymakers, researchers, technologists, community organizations, institutions, and investors working at the intersection of technology, equity, and public policy.

Beyond advocating for systemic change, the report advances clear, evidence-based policy and investment recommendations to support an equitable and inclusive AI ecosystem and to demonstrate how ACB contributions can be leveraged for national economic prosperity.

The full report and policy brief are available here:

厂辞耻谤肠别:听CanAfro Research Institute,听465 Phillip St #206; Waterloo, ON N2L 6C7
Email: contact@canafroinstitute.com

The course is open to African Studies Majors, Minors graduate students and other interested students in 3^rd听year standing.

In 2026, Prof. Nduka Otiono, director of Institute of African Studies will direct the course.

Title:听Social Movements, Technological Innovation, and Youth Agency in Africa.

Host Institution:听School of Communication, Day Star University, Nairobi, Kenya

Note: 杏吧原创 university will cover accommodation, local travel in Kenya, meals during special outings or tours. Our students will be responsible for tuition to 杏吧原创 University, international travel, visas, insurance, vaccinations, everyday meals, and all incidental costs,

Communal wells have helped small-scale farmers adapt to drought in South Africa.听Courtesy Jabulile Mzimela

A small-scale farmer produces food for their family on land that is generally smaller than five hectares. Small-scale farmers sell their excess produce but have limited access to resources, technology and big markets.

Africa鈥檚 small-scale听听when there鈥檚 a drought because these farmers rely on rainwater. South Africa has been affected by听听over the years. However, 2015 stands out as the driest period on record since 1904, with drought affecting听, including small-scale farmers.

As droughts induced by climate change increase, South Africa鈥檚 small-scale farmers need to adapt to the changed farming environment so that they can continue to produce food.

听investigated how small-scale farmers, particularly women, were using听听to adapt to drought. Indigenous knowledge systems are听听by people who live closely with nature. They include ways of organising and classifying the world, practical observations about the local environment, and methods for managing resources responsibly. The terms indigenous knowledge and indigenous knowledge systems are used interchangeably.

:

Source: https://theconversation.com/drought-and-farming-how-women-in-south-africa-are-using-indigenous-knowledge-to-cope-240462

Photos by Brenna Mackay

杏吧原创 University鈥檚 new partnership with South Africa鈥檚 University of Zululand is much more than a formal agreement to work on research projects together.

The two universities, whose leaders signed a memorandum of understanding in a ceremony on the 杏吧原创 campus on Sept. 3, are unlocking the transformative potential of African Indigenous knowledge systems 鈥� the traditional knowledge, practices and beliefs held by Indigenous communities on the continent, which can help people throughout Africa, Canada and around the world navigate some of the most pressing challenges on the planet.

鈥淓ven if this knowledge wasn鈥檛 written down, it has shaped how people live for thousands of years,鈥� said听Samuel Ojo Oloruntoba, a professor in 杏吧原创鈥檚 unique, standalone听Institute of African Studies听and the principal investigator of the Mastercard Foundation-supported听听(AIKRN), which is dedicated to re-centring African knowledge.

Left to right: 杏吧原创 Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President (Academic) David Hornsby, African Studies researcher and AIKRN principal investigator Samuel Ojo Oloruntoba and Institute of African Studies director Nduka Otiono

鈥淲e鈥檙e not just mapping this knowledge,鈥� Oloruntoba continued. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going back to our roots and applying it toward sustainable livelihoods. It is something to build upon.鈥�

鈥淲e want to shift the ecosystem of knowledge production in Africa and contest Eurocentricity,鈥� added Oloruntoba鈥檚 collaborator Inocent Moyo, a human geography researcher at the University of Zululand and Deputy Dean of Research and Internationalization.

鈥淲hat we鈥檙e doing involves both natural and social sciences and is directly related to the strategic focus of both our universities. We have engaged people in our communities on projects that will foreground Indigenous knowledge systems. We鈥檙e moving forward together.鈥�

A delegation from 杏吧原创 University visited South Africa and Uganda in late May on a partnership building trip 鈥� a significant step towards 杏吧原创鈥檚 goal of expanding international research and educational collaborations and an acknowledgement of Africa鈥檚 increasing importance on the global stage.

The trip embodies 杏吧原创鈥檚 principles- and values-based approach to working with partners and aligns with the Africa Charter, a framework for advancing transformative research collaborations that will uphold the continent鈥檚 place in the global production of scientific knowledge.

The 杏吧原创 University delegation met with officials at the University of Johannesburg

鈥淧artnerships like the ones we鈥檙e building with universities and other organizations in Africa are crucial, considering the trend we鈥檙e seeing around the world of nations turning inwards,鈥� said 杏吧原创听President Wisdom Tettey, who led the delegation.

鈥淎s universities, we need to look for bridges and opportunities to draw one another together.鈥�

One of the ways in which 杏吧原创 is demonstrating its leadership is through the South Africa-Canada Universities Network (SACUN), which aligns higher education institutions in Canada with their partners in South Africa.

As SACUN鈥檚 anchor institution in Canada, 杏吧原创 coordinated the establishment of the network and is helping to execute plans to collectively address challenges such as reconciliation, climate change and sustainable development.

Indigenous Knowledge Systems

Among the stops during the trip was a conference in Entebbe, Uganda, to launch the African Indigenous Knowledge Research Network (AIKRN), which aims to connect African Indigenous knowledge with technology and global ideas in areas such as food security, biodiversity, natural resource management and environmental protection.

Supported by the Mastercard Foundation and led by 杏吧原创 African Studies researcher听Samuel Ojo Oloruntoba, AIKRN aims to unlock entrepreneurship opportunities in Africa through the traditional knowledge, practices and beliefs held by Indigenous communities. Indigenous groups and institutions in Canada are among its members, including the First Nations University of Canada, which was represented in Uganda by President Jacqueline Ottmann.

杏吧原创鈥檚 David Hornsby and President Wisdom Tettey with students at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg

In her virtual keynote address, Mastercard Foundation CEO Reeta Roy talked about the opportunities for economic transformation through Indigenous knowledge systems, noting that meaningful and lasting impact arises when communities lead the process.

The conference brought together scholars, practitioners, Indigenous community members, cultural leaders and youth from 16 countries: Australia, Botswana, Benin, Canada, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, the United States and Zambia.

Among the outcomes were the mentorship opportunities for young scholars; new ideas for integrating Indigenous knowledge into sustainable development; the creation of market access for Indigenous artisans; and support for smaller institutions by exposing them to international networks.

Amazing Things Together

The group from 杏吧原创, which included Vice-President (Research and International)听Rafik Goubran听and Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President (Academic)听David Hornsby, also held a series of bilateral meetings with South African universities.

At the University of Cape Town, discussions with humanities scholars mapped out opportunities for connectivity in areas of shared interest such as the ethics and impact of artificial intelligence (AI). Among the action items coming out of this meeting were the possibility of a joint seminar series.

Discussions at the University of Johannesburg focused on joint degree programs and the pursuit of collaborative grants through SACUN. There were also conversations about joint pedagogical training opportunities to exchange teaching strategies, particularly around large classes and new educational technologies.

David Hornsby, Vice-President Rafik Goubran and President Tettey with scholars from the media studies program at the University of Johannesburg

At the University of the Witwatersrand, physics collaboration was on the agenda, in particular the Square Kilometre Array project in South Africa,听the world鈥檚 largest radio telescope. 杏吧原创 researchers and Witwatersrand colleagues are already collaborating in areas such as particle physics but want to do more work together 鈥斕齠or instance, supporting one another on researcher skill development and exporting 杏吧原创鈥檚 undergraduate skill development听FUSION听program.

At the University of South Africa (UNISA), there was strong interest in collaboration around the digital humanities, online learning and AI, and UNISA鈥檚 participation in SACUN was also discussed.

Opportunities to utilize the SACUN call for grants were discussed at the University of Pretoria, where 杏吧原创 has established a new partnership, with plans to explore additional shared funding streams together.

At Stellenbosch University, beyond talking about the school鈥檚 participation in SACUN, 杏吧原创 met with professors from the Faculty of Engineering to talk about AI, among other subjects, and potential collaborative research projects.

President Tettey with Letlhokwa Mpedi, Vice Chancellor and Principal at the University of Johannesburg

The 杏吧原创 delegation also met with Universities South Africa to talk about collaboration in two areas: mentorship opportunities through the organization鈥檚 Thuso Connect initiative, which focuses on the supporting early career researchers, and shared training on the use of AI in teaching through 杏吧原创鈥檚听Hands-On AI听series.

At South Africa鈥檚 National Research Foundation, discussions focused on the foundation鈥檚 forthcoming collaborative grants call and ways to draw in Canadian organizations such as the International Development Research Centre and MITACS.

Lastly, the group from 杏吧原创 met with James Christoff, High Commissioner for Canada in South Africa, and Caroline Bolduc, Canada鈥檚 Trade Commissioner in the country, and participated in the Africa Week science leadership summit at the University of Pretoria, where Tettey took part in two panel discussions.

鈥淎t 杏吧原创 we are always open to engaging with global partners who align with our purpose and our values in order to co-learn, share knowledge and advance our commitment to innovation that addresses complex issues and promotes inclusive and mutually flourishing communities,鈥� said Tettey.

鈥淲e look at partnerships as truly authentic and meaningful collaborations, not as the North coming to the South or vice-versa. If we put our minds together in a common purpose, we can do amazing things together.鈥�

A Long History of Collaboration听

杏吧原创 has a long history of research and educational activity in Africa.

The university鈥檚听Institute of African Studies听is the only stand-alone unit of its kind in Canada, an academic home for researchers such as South African-born听Shireen Hassim, the Canada 150 Research Chair in Gender and African Politics.

杏吧原创 also hosts initiatives like the听Queen Elizabeth Scholars Programs, which supports cross-cultural exchanges with African universities for researchers who work in areas such as climate change and societal transformation.

鈥淢eeting with our African partners was a vital step in deepening our international partnerships and fostering impactful, collaborative research and programs,鈥� said Goubran.

鈥淭hese important connections not only strengthen our global engagement but also create meaningful opportunities for the recruitment of graduate and undergraduate students, the establishment of joint and cotutelle programs, as well as exchange opportunities for both students and faculty, benefitting communities both locally and abroad.鈥�

Canada鈥檚 First Africa Strategy

杏吧原创鈥檚 efforts in Africa are timely, coming in the wake of Canada releasing its first-ever听听this past March.

The federal government鈥檚 new foreign policy states that 鈥渁t a time of global economic and geo-political volatility, Canada must seize opportunities to strengthen its economic and national security,鈥� including engagement with Africa 鈥渢oward greater economic cooperation, strengthened peace and security partnerships, enhanced engagement of African diaspora communities in Canada, and international assistance that supports economic development and youth employment.鈥�

The strategy focuses on trade and investment but is less concerned with areas such as science, technology, innovation and education, according to Hornsby, creating opportunities for 杏吧原创 to take an active leadership role.

Networks like SACUN are poised to support this work by addressing 鈥済rand challenges that transcend traditional borders and boundaries,鈥� said Hornsby.

鈥淭he challenges that we face have been unequally felt around the world, and countries in Africa have consistently been marginalized. This network rallies us to recognize that we have a lot in common and need to work together.鈥�

Source:

[Nairobi Campus, Friday 27th June, 2025] On Thursday 26th June 2025, Prof. Nduka Otiono, a Nigerian Canadian creative writer led a live seminar on post-colonialism, youth agency and creative writing for Communication students taking Audio Production course at the Nairobi Campus.

The event was hosted by the Associate Dean for the School of Communication Dr. Lydia Radoli, and Prof. Wandia Njoya, an Associate Professor in the Department of Language and Performing Arts. The two hour seminar attracted Communication students enthusiastic about forms of storytelling and narratives that make interpretations of current realities such as the happenings around the recent GenZ demonstrations.

Born in Kano Nigeria, Prof. Otiono is currently the Director of the Institute of African Studies at 杏吧原创 University in Ottawa, Canada. He was introduced to the School of Communication leadership by Ms. Wairimu Gitau, an Adjunct lecturer in the School, and an Alumnus of 杏吧原创 University.

Prof. Otiono is a former journalist and held the position of National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Authors (2001-2005). He has also authored and co-edited 12 books of creative writing and academic research. In 2022, he made it to the final list of Archibald Lampman Prize for poetry for his anthropology DisPlace, while in 2023 he was one of the winners of FASS Research Excellence Awards.

In conceptualizing his insightful seminar, Prof. Otiono said that oral history constitutes unofficial narratives and the stories that the streets tell us, while news is history in a hurry. He further opined that our philosophical articulation of ideas is also beyond street protests, thus creating a need to articulate a long term vision post a protest revolution period as exemplified in Kenya, hence re-writing the common African narrative. Prof. Otiono gave an example of his country Nigeria, which failed to articulate a long-term vision even after the military dictatorship rule of the late General Sani Abacha which ended up creating a leadership vacuum.

Sani Abacha was an ex-military dictator who ruled Nigeria with an iron fist. In 1995, he came under worldwide scrutiny for the death of the Ogoni 9. These were environmentalists who protested against the activity of the Nigerian military government and the Shell oil company in the Ogoni region Niger Delta, Nigeria. Among them was Ken Saro-Wiwa, a writer, poet, Nobel Prize nominee and environmental activist who led the other eight activists who were also executed on 10th November 1995.

Prof. Otiono emphasized that history repeats itself and that such activists will still be born in the future. A good example is Ibrahim Traore, the young 37-year old President of Burkina Faso who ousted his colleague, Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, weakening the control of his country Burkina Faso from the shackles of France, their former colonizer. Traore has also been known for his role in establishing the Alliance of Sahel States (ASS).

Prof. Otiono also stated that political accountability forces human beings of any particular post colonial Africa to change. Despite this, he advised communication students to know how to use words especially amidst the ongoing GenZs鈥� protests. Prof Otiono advised communication students to later research on African political-youthquake, translating to a cultural and social phenomenon where young people drive significant changes in society often challenging traditional norms and beliefs.

The soft-spoken Nigerian Professor reminded us of past popular hashtags in our African continent such as #FeesMustFall, a popular hashtag in South Africa and #EndSARS in Nigeria, linking them to the African youthquake takeover.

Professor Otiono reiterated that news is history in a hurry, writing is about re-writing a particular narrative and to be a professional writer one has to keep writing. 鈥淭here is no perfect way of writing but to keep perfecting your writing,鈥� he said as he remembered his first articles that he wrote to the editors of a Nigerian newspaper, immediately he had finished high school waiting to join university. The progress he has made still impresses him.

Writing is a form of therapy, a compelling drive to remain sane, likening it to venting out your need. Professor Otiono is proof that each communication student in Daystar University can process their words on paper and express their views to help our Kenyan and African society. Prof. Otiono will be speaking at the upcoming 4th Annual Conference of Daystar University to be hosted by the School of Communication from August 13 鈥� 15, 2025.

~The writer , Leeroy Wuone, is a Daystar University 4th Year student taking a BA in Communication (Electronic Media), and a Minor in International Relations.听

We are part of a global family of over 200 million strong, each of us a storyteller, a mentor, an entrepreneur. In Ottawa and across Canada, Afro-Canadian communities gather at churches, mosques, cultural clubs and startup incubators to uplift youth and share skills. We plant the seeds of capacity building: coding camps taught by diaspora engineers, business networks connecting Accra and Toronto, and mentorship circles nurturing young leaders. We know that an African in Ottawa shares the same hopes as one in Nairobi, as we work toward the same goal of lifting our people.

Written by: Sumaila Gariba