Schulich Black Students Association’s Afropolitan Event Sets New Record
This year, the Schulich Black Students Association (SBSA) celebrated a significant milestone with its flagship event, Afropolitan, selling out in advance and setting a new club record. Under the leadership of co-presidents Ornella Banza and Eniola Adepoju, SBSA experienced unprecedented growth, making this its most successful event to date.
Hosted at Deloitte, Afropolitan featured a keynote address from CPA Ontario, insightful panel discussions, workshops led by the Onyx Initiative, and a networking session that connected students with industry professionals and corporate representatives. A major highlight of the event was the case competition, where participants showcased their strategic thinking before esteemed judges. With a $2,000 prize pool, the competition attracted top talent and fostered collaboration. Participating schools included TMU, UofT, McMaster, Schulich, and more.
This year, the SBSA introduced new Allyship and Corporate Relations departments to expand discussions on equity, empowerment, and professional connections beyond the Black community. These efforts ensured that Afropolitan was an inclusive space for leadership and legacy discussions.
The success of this event would not have been possible without the dedication of the SBSA team, including Operations leads Anisa Ulusow, Bridget Moka, and Beulah Odoom; Marketing team members Samara McAnuff, Emmanuel Kalemba, and Mya Hartman; Corporate Relations members Esther Kimpiatu, Iman Nassir, and Hamda Yusuf; Allyship team leads Zain Ali, Masruba Mashud, and Zakiya Koya; Finance leads Adna Osman and Naomi Nigusie; and first-year representatives Nardos Mekonnen and Eden Johannes. Senior advisors Ramla Elmi, Yousif Arbab, and Ilhaan Jama provided invaluable guidance.
This event was a fitting conclusion to Black History Month, celebrating Black excellence and fostering community engagement. Congratulations to all teams, especially the first-place winners, Team SKM: Kofi Mensah, Shahiran Vasanthan, and Milano Ramkumar. A huge thanks to Deloitte for hosting and to our amazing partners: MNP, KPMG, EY, P&G, ONYX, CPA, Mackenzie, Scotiabank, and American Express for making this event a success!