21-Year-Old Nigerian Student Breaks Record at University of Toronto, Canada

21-year old Nigerian lady, Udou wan has been awarded a student leadership in the University of Toronto for her outstanding performance in the Institution while studying pharmacy.

At just 21, Udounwa has amassed significant experience in pharmacy practice and student leadership, setting the stage for a promising career.

Growing up in Abuja, Nigeria, Udounwa attended boarding school for both middle and high school. She graduated from high school at 15, having started kindergarten early and skipped a grade due to her academic excellence.

During her time at boarding school, Udounwa learned about the University of Toronto and decided to apply, inspired by her older sister studying nearby in Hamilton. With her parents’ support, she was accepted and began her journey at U of T.

In 2018, at age 15, Udounwa moved to Canada to pursue a Bachelor of Science, specializing in pharmacology and biomedical toxicology with a minor in physiology. She lived in St. Michael’s College residence, spending holidays with her sister or aunt. Her maturity and boarding school experience helped her adjust, though she initially struggled with being one of the few Black students in her residence. She eventually connected with fellow Nigerians through the Nigerian Students’ Association.

After two years, she transitioned to the PharmD program at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. Passionate about pharmacology and patient care, she viewed pharmacy as a bridge between theory and practice, offering various career paths including academics and research.

Udounwa began her PharmD program during the COVID-19 pandemic, contributing significantly to the vaccination effort by administering over 1,600 COVID-19 and flu vaccines. She gained practical experience through rotations at several healthcare institutions, including Shoppers Drug Mart, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto General Hospital, and CAMH.

Her leadership skills shone through her involvement with the Black Pharmacy Students’ Association and the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Students and Interns (CAPSI), earning her a U of T Student Leadership Award. A highlight of her time was representing U of T at CAPSI’s 2023 Professional Development Week in Saskatoon, where she expanded her professional skills and learned about Indigenous history and culture.

In September, Udounwa will begin an industry residency at Novo Nordisk in the medical affairs and strategic operations department. While keeping an open mind about her future practice, she aims to maintain direct patient care. Reflecting on her journey, she advises her peers to be patient and kind to themselves as they navigate their careers.

“This is a pivotal moment in our careers; be patient and give yourself grace as you go through the process and navigate through that uncertainty to the next great opportunity,” she says.

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SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, INTERVENTION