Nigeria’s Ademola Adesola to receive MRU’s ‘𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭’𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝’

By Editor

NIGERIA’S Dr. Ademola Adesola of Mount Royal University, Calgary, Alberta, Canada has been announced as one of two recipients of the 2026 ‘𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭’𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝’. Each year, the ‘Celebrate U Awards’ recognize employees whose contributions make a meaningful difference at Mount Royal and in the wider community.

The President’s Community Connections Award recognizes employees who have made significant contributions to building and strengthening relationships between Mount Royal and the surrounding community. The award celebrates individuals who actively foster collaboration, partnerships and programmes that enhance Mount Royal’s role as a positive force in the community. Recipients of the President’s Community Connections Award exemplify the values of service, engagement and commitment to social responsibility, making a meaningful impact both on campus and beyond.

Adesola has expressed gratitude to the university management for selecting him for the presigious award, saying, “It is with immense joy that I share here that I am one of the two recipients of the recently announced by Mount Royal University. My gratitude is to my nominator, Dr. John Cheeseman, who has been a consistent admirer of my work within and outside MRU. Dr. Cheeseman is neither in my faculty nor department. He works in the University Library.

“My initiation and convening of the 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐚 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 annually stands out as one of the undertakings that 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭’𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 celebrates. With the invaluable assistance of different colleagues, staff, and students, I have run this Series in the last three years. October 21 this year will be its fourth edition. When I joined MRU in 2022, I saw a gap that I could fill through my research interests. I found out quickly that ideas and letters produced by African and Black Canadians needed to be part of what our university should take seriously beyond the classroom. That will on my part found a way; I tapped into money designated for such initiatives. That funding source has been crucial to the organization of the Series annually in a hybrid fashion. The Series brings people to MRU from just about anywhere on campus, in Canada, and in the world.”

Adesola also acknowledged colleagues, organisations and students that have helped him maintain this scholarly vision in the last three years.

According to him, “I have not been doing this work alone. And so, the award belongs to everyone who has supported me (I have reached out to them already), and to all who continue to do so.

“I remain grateful, too, to colleagues who this past academic year found me worthy of being nominated for other awards such as the MRU 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝, the 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝, the 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 (𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝) and the 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐀𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 (𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐲). I use this opportunity again to thank my colleague, Dr. Christopher Gringnard, for the 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 I got about two years ago. My department’s Chair, Rob Boschman, for his support. Everyone who continues to challenge and encourage me is appreciated heartily.”

The official award ceremony will take place in November. Adesola promised to share the joyous moment with his friends, family and colleagues globally.