How a rising UTM star balances a thriving small business along with her studies, community work, and legal aspirations.
In her first year at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), Efemena Eghujovbo was sorely missing a sense of community on campus.
An entrepreneurial talent and legal aspirant, Eghujovbo spent much of her first year consumed by a small business she spearheaded and her studies. However, in the years that followed, Eghujovbo made it her mission to build connections and ensure that other students like her could feel welcome and empowered at UTM.
Now in her fourth-year, double majoring in criminology and sociology, Eghujovbo is exceeding that goal as a prominent leader and role model on campus who has gained experience and confidence in her abilities, her uniqueness, and her career goals.
“For most of my rotations at the internships I’ve taken on, I was the only person of colour in that space,” says Eghujovbo.
“At first it was intimidating and I felt like an outsider, but then I realized I was put in this position because someone believed in me, and that I can do this.”
For Eghujovbo, the initial decision to pursue law school was an easy one, stemming from a deep desire to continuously learn and apply her knowledge to create a meaningful impact.
“During my criminology degree, studying legal cases sparked my passion for the law and inspired me to pursue a profession where I could advocate for my community, particularly in the corporate space.”
Eghujovbo secured the Bell In-House Counsel Legal Internship in the summer of 2023 and doing so was a pivotal moment for her.
“It not only confirmed that I want to continue with criminology and sociology, but also confirmed that I do want to go to law school and pursue corporate law,” she says.
Over the past summer, she enhanced her legal experience further with an internship at Gowling WLG, an international law firm.
Leading UTM clubs, such as the African Students Association (ASA) and the Black Future Lawyers Club, is an additional integral element of Eghujovbo’s university experience.
“You can see the community within African students, Black students, Carribean students – everyone really comes together for our events, but when I was in my first year, I rarely saw that,” says Eghujovbo.
Eghujovbo’s interest in community-oriented projects extends deeper into academia and policy: she recently completed a research opportunity project under the supervision of Prof. Tracey Galloway on youth poverty reduction in the Peel Region, where she and her team presented their youth-based policy recommendations to the regional government.
“It’s opened my eyes to how non-linear peoples’ experiences are with poverty,” says Eghujovbo.
As a Research Assistant with the Caribbean and Black Writing Collective, Eghujovbo has held writing centres and conducted research to identify gaps in literature on Caribbean and Black Writing Centres in post-secondary institutions under the guidance of Professors Sheliza Ibrahim, Nelesi Rodrigues, and Janine Rose.
In between classes and campus clubs, Eghujovbo also makes time to manage her small business. She founded Simply Haircare, a business born out of her passion for health and beauty. Starting out by selling her products at farmers’ markets in her hometown of Windsor, Ontario, Eghujovbo’s entrepreneurial journey has been challenging but rewarding.
“As a founder, I realize how invaluable legal knowledge would have been in navigating the complexities of starting a business… As a corporate lawyer, my ultimate goal is to empower small Black-owned businesses with the legal tools and resources they need to thrive.”
Balancing school, work, and her business has taught her the importance of self-care and the need to take breaks when necessary. Despite the challenges, she sees a bright future for Simply Haircare, with dreams of growing it into a big company that employs people of color and inspires young girls to pursue their own entrepreneurial ambitions.
Eghujovbo’s advice to her younger self, and to others in similar positions, is simple yet profound.
“You don’t have to have it all figured out,” says Eghujovbo.
“No one knows what they’re doing. You just have to work hard and trust that it’ll all work out.”