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Professional of the Year Award — Dr. Temitope Oriola
Temitope Oriola is a professor of criminology at the University of Alberta. Temitope Oriola is joint Editor-in-Chief of African Security journal. He is vice president and president-elect of the Canadian Association of African Studies (CAAS), the major national multidisciplinary body of scholars in Canada engaged in studying the African continent. A recipient of the Governor General of Canada Academic Gold Medal, Oriola’s book Criminal Resistance? The Politics of Kidnapping Oil Workers (Routledge 2016 [orig. 2013]) is one of a small number of book-length sociological investigations of political kidnapping in the English language.
Oriola’s ongoing research focuses on the ascendance of extremist non-state transnational actors, particularly in the Lake Chad Basin. This research investigates the intricacies of the ascendance of Boko Haram, the trends and patterns of Boko Haram’s operations, the gender dimensions (particularly kidnapping of and sexual and gender-based violence against women and young girls) and the backdrop of global jihadi terrorist trajectories. Oriola’s research expertise encompasses terrorism studies and violent extremism, sexual and gender-based violence, transnational crimes, oil insurgencies and state crimes, political violence, policing and use of force by police, kidnapping and human rights. Oriola’s expert opinions are regularly sought by various governmental and non-governmental agencies.
Professor Oriola has published in leading scholarly venues such as the British Journal of Criminology, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, Third World Quarterly, Sociology, Canadian Journal of Criminology & Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice Ethics and Critical Studies on Terrorism, among others. His research has received funding from organizations such as the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and the Killam Trusts. Oriola is a two-time recipient of the prestigious Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship (2015 and 2017).
Professor Oriola is committed to international education and professional development on the African continent. He has served as resource person during professional development workshops at universities in countries like Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria. These activities have brought him in contact with many students and faculty who have benefitted from his experiences as a journal editor, scholarly evaluator and academic in a top 100 global university. Oriola has contributed to raising academic standards among students and faculty at universities such as the University of Port Harcourt, University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, Ekiti State University and Nile University, among others. Through his academic leadership and career mentoring, Oriola motivates students, particularly those from non-mainstream backgrounds to pursue their educational goals.
Over the years, African and non-African students at the University of Alberta have benefitted from his presence in the classroom. Oriola views teaching as a conscientious and unwitting process of shaping minds and society. As he notes in his teaching dossier “Teaching, for me, provides the pedestal for the socio-genesis of the human, material, and ideational infrastructure of society. A teacher may choose to assist students adapt to the vicissitudes of society in order to guarantee their survival and those with whom they share the most intimate relationships, while leaving the society — irrespective of historical trajectories and social flows — unperturbed. On the other hand, a teacher may painstakingly engage students to think critically about their society, their place in it, and duty to humanity. I elect the latter.”
Professor Oriola brings his experiences to bear on his pedagogical practices having lived and studied on two continents, Africa and North America. He espouses a unique international dimension of knowledge dissemination as a citizen of a developing country and a transmigrant in Canada. He furnishes students with the necessary critical, analytical, and sophisticated theoretical tools and engagement techniques fundamental to understanding society. Professor Oriola encourages students to think “glocally” (i.e. both globally and locally) even with respect to issues that do not directly concern them. Professor Oriola’s pedagogy has an unflinching commitment to social and economic justice.
Finally, for outstanding contributions to teaching, international education and professional development, I heartily and unreservedly nominate Professor Temitope Oriola for the Professional of the Year award.
Professional of the Year Award – Charles Osuji
Charles Osuji is the owner/Managing Partner of Osuji & Smith Lawyers, an Alberta full-service law firm that has been in business for over 39 years.
After graduating at the top of his 160 graduating class, Charles proceeded to the Nigerian Law School where he was called to the Bar in 2010. Shortly afterward, Charles immigrated to Canada in 2011. He quickly completed his accreditation process, joined Smith Law Office as a law student in 2013 and was called to the Alberta Bar in 2014. A year and half later, Charles became a named Partner at Osuji & Smith and the sole owner of the firm a few months later. Shortly after Charles took over the Firm, Osuji & Smith was rated one of the best employment law firms in Calgary and has maintained that rating for 3 consecutive years. Osuji & Smith has also been nominated for the 2019 Employer Awards for Newcomer Employment, given by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Charles has also been rated one of the best Business Lawyers in Calgary for 2019.
Charles has been featured by the Lawyers’ Daily, IAF Canada, and the Global News and has been nominated for the 2018 Immigrant of Distinction (Achievement under 35) Award by Immigrant Services, Calgary, the 2016 Professional of the Year award by OBSIDIAN and the 2019 Hope Awards for his community services. He was recognized as of the “Outstanding Africans” in Canada for 2018, and the recipient of the 2019 CY Ekwulugo Award for Community Service and volunteering from the Igbo Community, Calgary.
Charles is a passionate, dedicated and knowledgeable lawyer. He is one of the leading young lawyers in Calgary and takes pride in providing effective and practical legal advice to his clients.
Professional of the Year Award – Natasha B. Russell
Natasha B. Russell was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta and is the Founder and CEO of NBR Strategic Solutions <http://www.nbrstrategicsolutions.com/> and NBR Coaching and Speaking <https://www.natashabrussell.com/>. She is a successful business owner who has more than 17 years of professional communications, public relations and leadership experience working in the corporate world in a variety of communications advisory, project management and leadership roles for large, reputable organizations within the agency, legal and energy sector.
After graduating from high school, Natasha began her career working in the legal field as a paralegal for large international law firms, supporting corporate lawyers with multi-million dollar closing deals. She then went back to school in 2008 and graduated with honours from Mount Royal University with a Bachelor of Communications with a major in Public Relations in 2012; she received multiple scholarships due to her high GPA during university and community involvement.
Natasha transitioned into the energy sector in 2010 working in Corporate Communications in a variety of advisory roles for energy companies. She has experience managing the reputation for large energy companies through internal and external communications strategies that entail media relations, communication planning, stakeholder relations and social media. In 2018, she resigned from her six-figure salary corporate job to fulfill her passion and start her own coaching, speaking and consulting company.
Natasha is a certified Life Coach, Public Relations Consultant and Motivational Speaker who is passionate about making a positive impact in her community and transforming as many lives as possible through coaching, speaking and consulting. She enjoys volunteering with non-profit organizations who support and educate children and youth in need. She is a full-time mom who enjoys travelling, cooking and reading. Natasha continues to inspire, motivate and empower others to fulfill their God-given purpose, invest in their health and teach them how to generate more wealth and achieve greater success through strategic visionary planning and empowered action.
Natasha also has certifications in Life Coaching, Motivational Speaking, Crisis and Risk Management and Online Reputation Management from IABC (International Association of Business Communicators) and is media trained. She is currently pursuing her health coaching accreditation through Health Coach Institute. Additionally, she is a Director with the Alberta Energy Efficiency Alliance (AEEA), is the Chair of the AEEA’s Membership Committee and is a Business Mentor with Futurepreneur. To learn more about Natasha B. Russell (NBR), please visit: www.natashabrussell.com.
Professional of the Year Award – Joy Gihana
Joy Gihana is Mental Health/Family psychotherapist. She is the owner of family Life and Beyond, a private practice with a mission for empower individuals, couples, parents and families to be their best version through counseling, workshops and seminars.
Joy Gihana wears many different hats; wife and a mother (of 3 gorgeous babies), community leader, Psychotherapist, College instructor, to mention but a few.
She holds a Bachelor Degree in Law (LLB) and a Master Degree in Counseling Psychology. In 2009 when Joy moved to Canada she secured herself the first job in Canada as a case worker in the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for newcomers. Having worked with the United Nation High commission for Refugees as resettlement worker, Joy was able to support newcomers and immigrants to Canada integrate in the new foreign land.
In 2012, Joy Gihana secured herself a job as a Family Intervention Generalist, whose job was to work in partnership with the Ministry of Children Services (Edmonton) to support and protect children and their families.
In 2014 Joy Gihana decided to purse a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology. This was one of the hardest phases of Joy’s life as she had three kids all under the age of 5 at the time. In addition mothering her 3 children, she was still holding down a 3 full time job. What sets Joy Gihana apart is that despite all the hurdles that life brought her at point in time, she was able to graduate with honours Masters degree from Yorkville University in 2016.
In 2016, Joy Gihana was able to secure a job with Mcman youth, family and community services as a clinician. As a clinician Joy ensured the program met the therapeutic needs of the clients while ensuring the agency’s values are maintained. Additionally Joy provided individual counseling and therapy to families, coaching and training staff, and on-going support and problem solving to staff within the programs.
Joy also works as an instructor curriculum developer and at Norquest College in the faculty of health and community studies.
Joy also has a deep-seated passion for community; she has tirelessly worked for her community and beyond her community. Joy has as a member on various boards in her community, church and her kids school.
Joy believes that it takes a thriving individual to make a thriving family that makes a thriving community, it takes one to tango.
Professional of the Year – Neva Perrotte
Neva Perrotte is the owner of a Desjardins Insurance and Financial Services Agency in Calgary. She is originally from St. Georges, Grenada located in the Caribbean with a population of 90,000. In October 1969, Neva came to Calgary with her parents and older brother, Aden. Her father tells a story of arriving in Canada with $80 dollars in his pocket with no job or prospects, his only thought was to make a better life for his family.
From her parents Neva learned that education and work ethic were something to value. She saw her father work as a mover and collecting bottles to pay the bills and her mother go from being a teacher in Grenada to preparing meals for seniors. From these humble beginnings her father became the first black police officer in Calgary in 1975 and her mother a supervisor at the Royal Bank.
Neva graduated from the University of Calgary in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Major in Political Science. While attending the U of C, she joined the black students association by hosting radio shows during black history month and attending meetings. After graduating, Neva started her career with State Farm Insurance as a claims representative in Calgary.
During university Neva met her husband, Oliver who she married in 1993. After marrying Oliver they moved to Mississauga, Ontario. While in Mississauga she continued to work in insurance and became the manager of an insurance consulting firm helping insurance companies with writing compliance manuals to meet provincial guidelines. During her time in Mississauga, Neva and Oliver had 2 beautiful children, Ethan and Ashley.
With a return to Calgary in 2007 to be closer to family, Neva continued her career in insurance and was recruited by State Farm to come back to the company as an agent in August 2009. In this role as a business owner Neva and her team have won awards such as Chairman Circle for being the top 50 agency in North America, Small Business Leader for being top 50 in North America for selling business insurance; Ambassador Travel for being top 50 in the company for selling auto, home, life and mutual funds. Her office is consistently top 50 out of 525 agents in Canada. Her focus is always her team and the customer.
Neva has also worked on committees such as the agency transition team from State Farm to Desjardins; various business lines committees and chosen to pilot groups on new marketing tools and products. Recently Neva developed a female study group to help female agents share ideas and to help each other grow.
In her community, she is on the board of the Grenada Association and regularly volunteers at the Mustard Seed, the annual Grenada Independence Dance, Carifest and Sports Day. She can be seen at association events helping out in the kitchen and serving food.
This year Neva and her family created the Celia J Wells Memorial Scholarship in memory of her mother who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2011 and awarded the first $500 scholarship to a University of Calgary student.
Professional of the Year – Daniel Oldfield
Daniel Oldfield has been a Journalist/Broadcaster over the last forty years ; even prior to his assignment in Edmonton to cover the IAAF World Athletics Championship in 2001. Daniel started active journalism after completing school in 1976. After several classes in journalism, Daniel worked for several media houses including PROGRESS Newspaper, and the African Standard/Sports Stars Newspapers. Daniel then worked for Liberty Voice and Salone Times Newspapers. In 1988, he joined the staff of the National Media House, Sierra Leone Broadcasting Services (SLBS/TV) News Rooms until departure to cover the IAAF World Athletics Championship in Edmonton.
In Canada, Daniel teamed up with the veteran journalist, The Late Alhaji Saramadi Kabba to launch an African Magazine in 2010. Three years ago, Daniel opened a Facebook Page – Daniel Oldfield’s Corner, where he reports events from across the world.
Daniel Oldfield’s Corner is now the main source of information for Sierra Leoneans both within Alberta and overseas including as far as Australia. He covers all issues relating to all sorts of life: community events, sports, politics, topical issues, etc. His reporting has helped drawn attention to needy community members such as bereaved community members who received help via community donations and Go-Fund Me page campaign largely due to publications put out by Daniel Oldfield.
Daniel has been serving our community both as a journalist and host, covering various community events including our Independence Celebrations, award ceremonies, receptions, moderating panel discussions, and conducting and publishing interviews. Because of his invaluable services to our community, Daniel has been awarded the position of Community Journalist and recently won an award given by the Solid Rock Church.
Judges: Considering his admirable track-record as a journalist with more than forty years of service, both in developed and developing communities, I strongly nominate Daniel Oldfield for the award of Professional of the Year.
Professional of the Year – Abdoulaye BARRY
Abdoulaye BARRY is a Program Lead at A4HC. He obtained a Master Degree in Finance, Entrepreneurship and Business Development from Nancy University in France and completed a Project Leadership and Management Certificate from NAIT, Alberta. He is strong supporter of Economic Development.
Abdoulaye has over 10 years of experience working as a Project Team and/or Manager, 5 years in business development. As a project manager for Association des Reseaux d’Experts en Environnement et Developpement (AREED), Abdoulaye conducted a feasibility study and deployment strategies to equip a rural community in West Africa with an integrated project by converting a pure vegetable oil (Jatropha Curcas Linn) produced locally into gasoline to generate electricity and power a grain mill, a local hospital, a school, and an irrigation generator of women’s vegetable gardens. He developed a model to provide income generation activities for youth and women coops.
Since 2008, Abdoulaye has been helping thriving International NGOs, communities, youth and marginalized people by assisting them in defining and implementing their organizational diagnostics, strategic planning, including fundraising and building income-generating activities. As Oxfam Youth Entrepreneurship and Civic Engagement Program Manager in Burkina Faso, he participated in advocating entrepreneurship within 35 high schools, colleges and universities which equivalent to 4500 direct targets/students. He has planned, implemented, monitored, and evaluated many socio-economic projects, which led to policy and national strategy changes. He also led and managed a team of 9 staff with Government of Alberta funded project in employability and social development.
Abdoulaye has strong experience in project management, including risk management, budget planning and monitoring, project evaluation and quality control, etc. He was awarded 2 major competitions in France, all oriented on sustainable development and community socio-economic growth. He finally participated in a Research and Development on social enterprises in Ontario to identify and define their scale, scope and impact in Ontario economic growth.
He is well involved in Edmonton Community as a Board of Director, where he occupies different chair and steering committee positions for strategic planning, Bylaw and HR policies development and/or review. Under his leadership, Edmonton obtained the first brand New Francophone Elementary Public School, approved in the 2018 provincial government budget.
Abdoulaye is bringing to AHC his abilities in conceiving sustainable projects that can lift people with barriers and communities. His knowledge of integrated program has been supporting AHC socially responsible and its communities strong and viable.
