Viola Desmond Award honourees define transformative leadership – News and Events

As a volunteer at St. Michael’s Hospital’s Diabetes in Pregnancy Clinic, TMU nutrition student Titilayo Coker-Oshiwoga contributed to the creation of a patient handbook to share information on food supports such as food banks. 

“The patients were able to find a local food bank to receive the help they needed when they needed it—it gave me such a feeling of fulfillment,” said Coker-Oshiwoga, who is being recognized this week with a Viola Desmond Student Award. 

“To be likened to Viola Desmond’s activism is an honour,” she said. “As a recent immigrant and mother, the odds seemed to be stacked against me, so to be heard and seen was recognition of my efforts towards my chosen career path.”

An aspiring registered dietitian who is also pursuing a certificate in food security, Coker-Oshiwoga’s goal is to address diet-related diseases, especially within Black communities. She hopes to bridge the nutrition divide by promoting inclusive nutritional care that takes into account cultural differences and social determinants of health like socioeconomic status, employment and access to affordable nutritious foods. Coker-Oshiwoga has a diploma in natural nutrition, a bachelor of science and master’s of science in nutritional biochemistry, and teaches undergraduate biochemistry.

Coker-Oshiwoga encourages students to start giving back now and not to feel like they need to be established in their careers before contributing to their communities. 

“This award serves to provide further motivation to keep moving forward, breaking barriers, and to continue to give back to my community,” she said. “It will also serve as an inspiration to my children, showing them that they can be whatever or whoever they aspire to be in life.” 

TMU has provided an environment to thrive as a Black woman, she says. 

“I am thankful for the Tri-Mentoring Program and the work of the Black Student Success and Engagement team for providing safe spaces for sharing and for connection, and also for providing resources to help students forge ahead.”

Coker-Oshiwoga is looking forward to the future. “As my high school slogan says ‘the sky’s the starting point, not the limit.’”

Congratulations to the all 2024 award and bursary recipients who will be honoured for their commitment to positive change within the Black community.

The annual awards are presented by the Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion (OVPECI). This year, OVPECI is partnering with the Lincoln Alexander School of Law, with contributions from campus partners serving on the Viola Desmond Awards Planning Committee.