Adeola Olubamiji became the first Black person to graduate from the University of Saskatchewan in Canada with a PhD in biomedical engineering in 2017.
In addition to being a personal triumph, her feat served as a potent source of motivation for many, especially in light of the obstacles she had to overcome, such as her humble upbringing and the financial struggles she had during her academic career.
The difficulties faced by numerous Nigerian families attempting to escape poverty while pursuing their aspirations of obtaining an education are mirrored in Olubamiji’s story. She was exposed to adversity at a young age, having been born in Ibadan as the youngest of five children.
She revealed, “I started selling pepper on the streets of Ibadan when I was ten years old in order to support my mother. As a girl and the last kid, I had to become more resilient. My mother instilled in me the value of hard work.
Olubamiji believed that education was the key to a better future and was motivated by the desire to break free from the cycle of poverty. Although she graduated with a degree in physics from Olabisi Onabanjo University, her goals were not limited to Nigeria.
She remembered telling her father that, like her uncle, she would earn a PhD in physics. Though I didn’t want to build explosives, I did. I learnt about biomedical engineering in this way. I had to leave because it wasn’t offered at Nigerian universities at the time.
Olubamiji saw the potential of 3D printing to revolutionise sectors including manufacturing, healthcare, and the future of work as the globe embraced automation and rising technology. She bravely chose to change her emphasis rather than go the conventional path.
“I knew Industry 4.0 was the future of work,” she clarified. They made the announcement in 2011 and talked about a number of technologies, including 3D printing, blockchain, and artificial intelligence. I had to get into one of these, I knew. I therefore made the decision to change my PhD to concentrate on 3D printing since it was only beginning.
CREDIT: ALLSCHOOL, Allschoolabs
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