EVENTS | 2011 SYMPOSIUM | SPEAKERS
Onuwa Victoria Ogbolu was born in Asaba, Nigeria and moved to Canada in 1989. As a former university Professor at University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria, Onuwa holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in Fine Arts. She has worked extensively for the promotion of the arts, culture and heritage sector. As an accomplished visual artist and cultural advocate, she has shown her works to both domestic and international audiences.
In Canada, she trained as a computer instructor and worked with the Neil Squire Foundation, in Ottawa developing computer skills of adults with severe disability, seeking reentry into the job market with customized adaptive technological devices. Onuwa later trained and obtained a qualification as a Certified Computer Administrator and Engineer and worked with the House of Commons, Ottawa, as a Computer Netware Engineer with the Information Systems Department.
However, in 1997, Onuwa sustained a severe head injury in an automobile accident, which left her cognitively and speech impaired for many years; An Ontario Multidisciplinary Committee of health experts declared her Catastrophically Impaired in 1999. Under the care of specialists, she learned how to walk and how to manage her day to day activities all over again. Under the watchful eyes and care of nurses, she was observed and supervised for 24 hours a day for 6 years.
In 2006, she moved to Toronto from Ottawa with her son to seek a much needed change of environment and to reconcile her new role as a single mother. Her move to Toronto was as encouraging as it was challenging. Onuwa needed to go back to the job market. However, the gap created by years of illness made the task difficult and daunting. Nonetheless, she did not give up; she trained as an entrepreneur and launched her own arts, culture, and heritage business in 2007. With the help of a mentor, she focused on research, education, and community development. Her message is simple: to bridge cultural gaps and have Canadians of diverse backgrounds talking to one another in the interests of peace and harmony.
Onuwa Ogbolu is a graduate from Centennial College in the Culture and Heritage Site Management Post Graduate Program.
In Canada, she trained as a computer instructor and worked with the Neil Squire Foundation, in Ottawa developing computer skills of adults with severe disability, seeking reentry into the job market with customized adaptive technological devices. Onuwa later trained and obtained a qualification as a Certified Computer Administrator and Engineer and worked with the House of Commons, Ottawa, as a Computer Netware Engineer with the Information Systems Department.
However, in 1997, Onuwa sustained a severe head injury in an automobile accident, which left her cognitively and speech impaired for many years; An Ontario Multidisciplinary Committee of health experts declared her Catastrophically Impaired in 1999. Under the care of specialists, she learned how to walk and how to manage her day to day activities all over again. Under the watchful eyes and care of nurses, she was observed and supervised for 24 hours a day for 6 years.
In 2006, she moved to Toronto from Ottawa with her son to seek a much needed change of environment and to reconcile her new role as a single mother. Her move to Toronto was as encouraging as it was challenging. Onuwa needed to go back to the job market. However, the gap created by years of illness made the task difficult and daunting. Nonetheless, she did not give up; she trained as an entrepreneur and launched her own arts, culture, and heritage business in 2007. With the help of a mentor, she focused on research, education, and community development. Her message is simple: to bridge cultural gaps and have Canadians of diverse backgrounds talking to one another in the interests of peace and harmony.
Onuwa Ogbolu is a graduate from Centennial College in the Culture and Heritage Site Management Post Graduate Program.