Growing up in Nigeria, Ujunwa Aja-Onu (Ujay) has always found herself drawn to spirituality and self-help books, and to living her life in her own way, on her own terms. “I wanted to be part of the 5 am club,” she chuckled, referring to a book by the same name. Knowing the importance of setting up ritual and routine, Ujay has built practices for herself that begin early in the morning. She also chose to build a career in ways that went against the common path. 

“I don’t know where it came from, but I had the courage to say no to going into banking in my early 20s.” 

In 2022, Ujay moved to PEI. She came here to study in the Master of Arts in Island Studies program at UPEI. “The program sounded like a great fit for the work I was already doing and my goals for the future.” Like many people who come here to study, Ujay found herself enjoying island life and decided to stay here after graduation. “I fell in love with PEI and my family has decided to continue growing here.” 

With a background in community development spanning sectors in education, climate action, and economic empowerment, Ujay’s work has always been in service of her community. “I am passionate about supporting people.” As the newly appointed Executive Director of the Black Cultural Society of Prince Edward Island, Ujay is eager to bring her skills and passions together in the role. “I am so grateful for this opportunity to be part of BCS and to build programs that support our community. It’s more than just a job for me; it’s about the humanness and the possibility of making change in my community.” 

As someone who has lived here for less than five years, Ujay is intimately aware of the challenges, struggles, and opportunities that exist as a newcomer. “As a newcomer, suddenly everything is different and everything is changing.” These firsthand experiences are helping her in her work role because she has the personal knowledge of navigating the systems here. “I am eager to be part of bringing actions to impact for other people in my community.” 

An effortless storyteller, Ujay brings the personhood to the forefront in all she does. Whether in program development or policy advocacy, she is keen to build solid foundations for her community. “I am passionate about creating pathways for people to rise.” 

Ujay shared stories of living in Lagos with approximately 20 million people: “There were high-rise buildings everywhere and it was easy to get lost in the hustle of city life.” With a sense of peace and calm in her voice, she reflected on the difference for her and her family now that they live here: “Now I can hear the wind in the trees and the sound of the waves in the ocean. It is so beautiful.”

With three kids (ages 3, 10, and 15) at home, Ujay’s non-work life is filled with all the things that parenthood brings. “Raising my children is an important aspect of my life. Building strong community starts at home.” Though her moments alone are few, Ujay enjoys quiet times of reflection, walking in the neighborhood, and visiting beautiful beaches. “I feel the strong sense that we are in the right place and doing the things that we are meant to do in this moment in time.”

Though cheerful and upbeat in her demeanor, Ujay shared that, like many people, she has endured difficult challenges in her life. “We learn, grow, and stretch through the challenges, ultimately becoming more of who we are as resilient and strong people.”

When Ujay moved to PEI, she didn’t know people here. “I have family in Alberta but no one in this part of Canada.” It didn’t take long for her to realize that building community was an essential component to her livelihood and wellbeing. “I realized pretty early that it was the support and strength of my community that helped me and that I needed to build that for myself here.” 

She has become an active member of her community and church, sharing her own devotional writing in both long form (in books) and short form (on social media). “We can all use the help and support that comes from knowing other people have been through hard times and have found their way back into the light.” She has published two books on empowerment and speaks to community groups about some of the challenges she has lived through. Ujay’s writing practice is a companion to her prayer and meditation practice, all of which are part of her daily life. “Sharing my stories of pain and triumph is powerful for me and for the listener. It is relationship-building in action.”