Ojali Adukwu is a 3rd-year Economics undergraduate at one of Canada’s premier research. institutions — the University of Calgary, Alberta. Before joining the RIPE program with support from Causevest, she was eager to gain hands-on experience but had limited access to opportunities that offered real-life skills such as public speaking, presentations, and project management.
Today, Ojali is focused on applying the skills she gained during the internship to both her academic and personal life. Her activities now include research, community engagement, event facilitation, and delivering impactful presentations. RIPE gave her the foundation to develop and complete an entire project from start to finish, a milestone achievement in her journey.
One highlight of her experience was facilitating an Instagram Live session, something that once felt out of reach. She shared that doing presentations consistently pushed her beyond her comfort zone and helped her grow professionally.
According to Ojali, the most valuable skills she gained include public speaking, presentation design and delivery, project development, and time management. These skills now empower her to stay organized, plan her tasks efficiently, and confidently lead discussions in both school and work settings.
Ripe didn’t just give her skills — it gave her wings.
looking forward to funding the next one.