Nigerian author helps wrap up Black History Month at college

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on March 1, 2023.

Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman Guest speaker Moji Taiwo showcases her books after talking about her part on wrapping up Black History Month activities Tuesday at Lethbridge College.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

Lethbridge College wrapped up Black History Month activities with a lunch-and-learn session featuring Nigerian-inspired food and special guest speaker Moji Taiwo.

Taiwo graduated from Lethbridge College in 1981 from the communications arts-broadcasting journalism program after immigrating to Canada in 1978, from Lagos, Nigeria, West Africa.

She is an author, speaker, coach, facilitator, retired civil servant, and creator and host of The Immigrant Experience Show on the YouTube channel Diversity TV.

During her presentation, Taiwo shared her story as a newcomer to Canada, her experiences as a student of colour at the college in the early 1980s, career challenges and successes on her way to an award-winning career in Alberta’s Corrections system, and her encouragement to all people to never give up.

Before the event began Taiwo said she was very excited to be back in the college to speak to students about her journey.

“This is like coming home for me because I graduated from this college and I’ll be speaking a little bit about what life was in 1979 to 1981 while I was here and generally in the city,” said Taiwo.

She said when she arrived in Lethbridge, there were not a lot of people that looked like her, and most definitely not in journalism or broadcasting.

“It’s great to see that the college has expanded, it’s great to see the different faces and come full circle is beautiful,” said Taiwo.

She said it was intriguing and exciting to be at the college, especially on her 45th anniversary of arriving to Canada. She said anything is possible, as Canada is a land of opportunity, but that does not mean there won’t be challenges.

“Anything is possible if you set your mind to it and don’t listen to naysayers. Also, or equally important, is that you have to be cognizant and intuitive with the people around you in order to realize who is around the can help you to achieve your goals and who is not,” said Taiwo.

She said even though she was at LC to wrap up Black History Month, it’s important to continue talking about it, since the struggles people face happen everyday and not only in February.

“Black people, marginalized people, Indigenous brothers and sisters, we face struggles everyday so we’re asking for people for opportunities. I have a saying that says that we create our own possibilities, all we need is opportunities,” said Taiwo.

 She said when it comes to opportunities, the sky is not the limit.

 “All I ask for people to do is that go past the colour, you never know where excellence are, and if you meet anybody that needs help offer your help.”

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