Hi everyone, it's great to e-meet you! I’m Ganiyat, a part-time Public Engagement Officer at Results Canada.
As someone privileged to travel growing up, the questions of who I am and where I am from have always been complicated to answer, since both are so closely intertwined. I was born in Nigeria, but moved to Canada at the age of six before spending my teenage years in Brunei Darussalam. During these travels, I encountered diverse people and cultures that have fueled my passion for international relations and development.
During my undergrad, I founded the online social platform #IAmXMovement to educate about the injustices faced by Black, Indigenous, and racialized individuals. This platform informed my journey as an advocate, and in speaking up for marginalized voices, led me to co-found the Black Inclusion Association, a non-profit organization committed to promoting equity and justice for Black Albertans. These experiences have made me extremely passionate about volunteering, which is why I am so excited to be a part of the Public Engagement Team at Results.
Additionally, I am an alumna of the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs program, and I am currently pursuing my PhD in Global Governance, with my research focusing on the impact of global demand for critical minerals on energy poverty levels in Nigeria.
In my role at Results, I assist Peace and Safia, our Senior Public Engagement Officer and Public Engagement Manager, with all volunteer-related matters. As someone who achieved both her professional and academic goals by volunteering early on at various organizations, I am excited to be part of an organization dedicated to ensuring that volunteers are equipped with the tools to take effective action.
Outside of work and school, I am an avid hiker, reader, and aspiring writer, passionate about sharing stories that explore diasporic identity, culture, and history. To end off, something exciting that happened the other day is that my first-ever short story, I Will Never Forget My Home, got published!