Olu has fond memories of Nigeria. He grew up there, many of his family members remain there, and his early life experiences there influenced him in his adult years.

He talked about his childhood and recalled family life that was comfortably well off, in the early years. He also talked about his father losing his job, which shifted the family into poverty for some time. These early family life challenges would help define the way he approached life in the future.

Olu tried to create better opportunities for himself, and started focusing on furthering his education. He completed his first degree in Nigeria and did well enough to secure a scholarship for a master’s degree programme in South Africa. A small city across the world, in New Zealand, was the last thing on his mind while studying, but he found funding to pursue a PhD at Otago University and so the journey across the world began.

Glancing back in life, Olu feels that he saw every opportunity appear for him because of his persistence and willingness to stay focused on his long-term goals, regardless of an uncertain future.

Olu talked about one of his proudest achievements in life, that was prompted by a realisation that came from his father. While his father didn’t have opportunities to buy land or build a house, Olu made a promise to himself. A promise that he would do things differently from his father. Through his own hard work and savings, Olu managed to purchase some land and build a house for his family back home. Achieving such a goal in life still motivates him to this day.

Today, Olu finds himself balancing life with full-time work while pursuing a law degree in Dunedin. Work for him is in the mental health space now and it is very different to his previous studies in politics. Talking to Olu,  a career in mental health was an unexpected turn, initially it was just as a job to pay the bills. But what Olu found was that supporting others through difficult periods in life, became rewarding for him.

Keep trying, is a theme that appears in Olu’s story, both through his own experience and in how he approaches supporting others on their personal journeys. He believes that people can achieve more than what they imagine is possible, provided they are willing to keep trying. 

Olu mentioned that he has dreams of returning to academia again one day and hopes to achieve at least two new milestones. Firstly, becoming a professor one day after his studies , but for now he is also preparing for an exciting new chapter in life, with the expected arrival of his first child.

Olu hopes that people remember him as someone who made positive impacts wherever he went, encouraged and supported those around him, whether it be family, friends, or strangers. Olu’s portrait was captured at the University of Otago, a place where he continues his education with a belief that it will open doors to new possibilities.

"Whatever the problem is, whatever the history is, keep going. Don't give up, keep pushing, don't stop moving."