Adeola Olubamiji: University of Saskatchewan’s First Black Biomedical Engineering PhD Graduate

Adeola Olubamiji made history as the first Black individual to earn a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan in 2017, overcoming financial hardships and personal challenges while being inspired by her Nigerian roots and passion for advancing technologies like 3D printing.

In 2017, Adeola Olubamiji made history as the first Black individual to earn a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada.

Her accomplishment was not only a personal achievement but also a powerful source of inspiration for many, particularly considering the challenges she faced, including her modest beginnings and the financial difficulties she encountered throughout her educational journey.

Olubamiji’s story reflects the struggles of many Nigerian families striving to overcome poverty while pursuing educational dreams. Born in Ibadan as the youngest of five children, she was introduced to hardship early on.

She shared, “I hawked pepper on the streets of Ibadan as early as age 10 to help my mum. Being the last child and a girl, I had to toughen up. My mother believed in hard work, and that mindset shaped me.”

Driven by the desire to escape the cycle of poverty, Olubamiji saw education as the key to a better future. She earned a degree in Physics from Olabisi Onabanjo University, but her ambitions reached beyond Nigeria’s borders.

She recalled telling her father, “I would get a PhD in Physics like my uncle. I did, but I didn’t want to make bombs. That’s how I discovered Biomedical Engineering. Since Nigerian universities didn’t offer it then, I had to leave.”

As the world embraced automation and emerging technologies, Olubamiji saw the potential of 3D printing to transform industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and the future of work. Instead of following a traditional route, she made a bold decision to shift her focus.

She explained, “I knew Industry 4.0 was the future of work. In 2011, they announced it and discussed various technologies like blockchain, artificial intelligence, and 3D printing. I knew I had to plant myself in one of these. So, I decided to reroute my PhD to focus on 3D printing because it was just getting started.”

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SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, VANGUARD