The Ìtójú Mentoring Program was born from a shared commitment to community care for migrants and international students.
Ìtójú is part of a larger vision under the Uthando Collective Group, formed in 2021 by Mofi and two friends to support Black and racialized people navigating organizations, educational institutions, and the immigration system. As members of the collective, we noticed a recurring pattern – friends and family would often reach out, connecting us with new international students who needed guidance as they arrived in Canada. While we offered support where we could, we quickly realized how limited these efforts were.
Coupled with our own experiences as former international students, it was clear just how isolating and unsupported the international student journey is. This realization led Mofi to begin creating a mentoring program that would pair new international students with mentors that have gone through similar experiences and to offer the care and support we had once needed ourselves.
The heart of Ìtójú’s story
At the heart of Ìtójú is the connection between Mofi and Obakemi, who first met in 2013 during their undergraduate studies when Mofi was Obakemi’s international student mentor. Though life took them on different paths, they stayed connected over the years. In 2022, they reconnected with a shared passion for supporting international students. Obakemi was sharing her experiences as a former international student on her platform, @obakemistudiedabroad, while Mofi was building a mentoring program through Uthando. Recognizing the alignment in their work, Mofi reached out to Obakemi to collaborate, and together, they brought Ìtójú to life.