Bunmi Obateru serves as the lead researcher for Bow Valley College's Black Entrepreneur Project, where she is tasked with uncovering the contributions and experiences of Canada's fastest-growing Black population segment. Her work focuses on understanding how Black entrepreneurs in Alberta can thrive in a more inclusive economy. By collaborating with community and industry partners, Bunmi aims to identify strategies that will enable Black entrepreneurs to equitably grow, expand, and diversify the Alberta economy.
Despite being educated immigrants who bring valuable skills and perspectives, research indicates that there are still significant areas for growth and support within this community. Bunmi is committed to changing the narrative surrounding Black entrepreneurship (evolving from a solely scarcity mindset that emphasizes challenges) to one that highlights latent potential meeting with untapped opportunities in Alberta. She envisions a landscape where Black entrepreneurs are recognized as vital contributors to the Alberta economy, leveraging connections to the billions-strong African market—especially in a digital age where connectivity is ubiquitous.
Recently, Bunmi was awarded a 3-year research grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), along with additional government funding, to further support her initiatives aimed at empowering Black entrepreneurs. This funding will enable her to develop programs that foster mentorship, access to resources, and networking opportunities, ultimately facilitating a more equitable economic landscape for all. Through her research and advocacy, Bunmi is paving the way for a more inclusive and prosperous future for Black entrepreneurs in Alberta.
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Terms and Conditions for the Give The Nod Campaign
1. Eligibility
The contest is open to legal residents of Canada who are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry.
Participants must be entrepreneurs with a registered business in Canada.
Employees of The Nod Inc., its affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, and suppliers, as well as immediate family members and/or those living in the same household, are not eligible to participate.
2. Contest Entry
To enter the contest, participants must list their business on the campaign webpage by completing the registration form.
Each business can only be entered once per campaign round.
Entries must be received by the specified deadline to be eligible for the current round.
3. Contest Period
The contest consists of successive rounds occurring every two months.
Specific dates for each round will be announced on the campaign webpage.
4. Voting Process
Voting will be open to the public and conducted through the campaign webpage.
Each round will have a specific voting period, announced on the campaign webpage.
The business with the highest number of votes at the end of each round will be declared the winner.
5. Prizes
The winner of each round will receive a cash prize of up to $5,000.
Prizes are non-transferable and no substitution will be made except at the sponsor’s sole discretion.
6. Winner Notification
Winners will be notified via the email address provided during registration.
Winners must respond to the notification within 7 days to claim their prize.
Failure to respond within the specified time period may result in forfeiture of the prize, and an alternate winner may be selected.
7. Publicity
By entering the contest, participants agree to have their business name, logo, and description used for promotional purposes by The Nod Inc. without additional compensation.
