2025 Charles Osuji Foundation Grant Recipients: Rising Together Through Purpose, Service & Impact
The Charles Osuji Foundation was established to empower individuals and communities through education, entrepreneurship, and social impact. Built on the principle that true success is measured by how much we uplift others, the Foundation champions emerging leaders, innovators, and changemakers whose work reflects excellence, integrity, and community service. Through initiatives like the Rise Together Grant, the Foundation provides mentorship, funding, and visibility to individuals who embody resilience, creativity, and compassion—helping them turn dreams into legacies of impact. In 2025, the Foundation celebrates five exceptional recipients of the Rise Together Grant—visionaries whose journeys span business, art, law, and advocacy. Each story captures the Foundation’s belief that greatness grows when we rise together.
1. Tasa Ojeogwu — Founder & Chef, Tasa’s Tasty Kitchen
“Happiness is homemade, and excellence is our watchword.”
Few stories capture the fusion of culture, entrepreneurship, and purpose like that of Tasa Ojeogwu, the founder of Tasa’s Tasty Kitchen. What began as a simple desire to share the flavours of home has grown into an award-winning business recognized as Calgary’s Best Private Chef (2023) by NaijaprenuerCanada. Her culinary brand celebrates Nigerian cuisine with authenticity and innovation. From her signature Naija Puff Puffs to the pioneering Puff Puff Mix—now stocked in over ten stores
across Calgary and Airdrie, including No Frills—Tasa has made traditional Nigerian snacks a mainstream delight. Her participation in major cultural events such as the Calgary Stampede, Innovate Calgary, and the Ethnik Festivals has positioned her as a cultural
ambassador for Nigerian gastronomy in Canada.
A scientist at heart, with a degree in microbiology and ongoing medical studies, Tasa brings precision and discipline to her culinary craft. Beyond her business success, she dedicates time to community mentorship through her monthly Intentional Teens Hangouts, where
Young people learn life skills, discuss purpose, and build faith-based resilience.
“Cooking is my medium for service,” she explains. “It nourishes the body and uplifts the spirit.” With her sights set on scaling production and expanding her brand across Canada, Tasa’s story reminds us that business, when rooted in purpose, can transform both lives and communities.
Email: tasastastykitchen@gmail.com
Instagram: @tasastastykitchen
2. Damipe (“Peace”) Aladesemipe — Law Student & Community Advocate
“Being in law school isn’t just my dream — it’s my way of giving back.” At only 23, Damipe Aladesemipe stands as a voice of determination and compassion within Calgary’s growing community of young leaders. As a first-generation Nigerian-Canadian and the first in her family to pursue higher education, her journey to law school is both personal and symbolic—a testament to perseverance and faith. Before entering the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Law, Damipe completed a Bachelor of Social Work with a minor in Law & Society. She gained hands-on experience at the City of Calgary’s Community Strategies Division, shaping policies around food security, anti-racism, and accessibility. Her work with the Women’s Centre of Calgary and the Workers’ Resource Centre gave her deep insight into the challenges marginalized groups face in navigating justice and employment systems. Today, Damipe serves with Student Legal Assistance and the Black Law Students’ Association (BLSA), where she mentors peers and advocates for equity in the legal profession. Her long-term goal is to establish a community-based legal clinic offering pro bono services to immigrants and low-income families. “I want every young Black student to see that they belong in these spaces,” she says. For Damipe, the Rise Together Grant represents both support and validation—a reminder that her story matters, and her impact is only beginning.
LinkedIn: Damipe (“Peace”) Aladesemipe
University of Calgary Faculty of Law
3. Victor Ezesinachi Okoli — Scholar & Founder, MOGA Initiative
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
From his roots in Orumba, Nigeria, to his current studies at the University of Calgary Faculty of Law, Victor Ezesinachi Okoli’s journey reflects one consistent truth: success is most meaningful when shared. Armed with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nigeria and distinction from the Nigerian Law School, Victor joined Olaniwun Ajayi LP—West Africa’s largest law firm—where he advised on multi-billion-dollar infrastructure projects, including Nigeria’s Fourth Mainland Bridge and renewable energy developments. Yet, his greatest pride lies in service. In 2018, Victor founded Making Orumba Great Again (MOGA), a nonprofit organization improving educational access for thousands of youths. MOGA has donated more than 2,000 books, launched an annual Readers’ Challenge, hosted career summits for over 5,000 students, and provided scholarships to high-achieving learners. His work earned recognition from the Anambra State Government and international partners.
Today, Victor is pursuing a Master of Laws in Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law at UCalgary, researching cybersecurity risks in renewable energy. As a student caseworker with Student Legal Assistance, he offers pro bono legal help to low-income residents of Calgary. His dream is to serve as a bridge between Nigeria and Canada—advancing sustainable energy policy and educational opportunity across continents.
“My calling has always been to use the law not only to interpret justice but to extend it,”
Victor reflects.
LinkedIn: Victor Ezesinachi Okolie
University of Calgary Faculty of Law
4. Aremu Oluwafunmilayo — Founder, Ayaba Beauty Place
Phone: +1 (368) 887-0947
Email: ayababeautyplace@gmail.com
Instagram: @ayababeautyplace
5. Chidera Uzoka — Founder, Dera Art Studio
“Art isn’t just expression — it’s education, representation, and empowerment.”
For multidisciplinary artist and entrepreneur Chidera Uzoka, art is a calling—a way to preserve culture, challenge narratives, and connect communities. Her company, Dera Art Studio, was born from a desire to tell stories that often go unheard, using visual art and design as her language of advocacy.
After five years of building an online presence, Chidera expanded her practice into a physical studio at the NVRLND Arts Foundation. Her debut solo exhibition, Echoes, became a landmark event in Alberta’s art community, drawing over 150 attendees—including the Minister of Arts, Culture, and the Status of Women. Through striking imagery, Chidera explored identity, belonging, and the shared human experience, transforming her exhibition into a space of dialogue and healing.
In addition to her artistic pursuits, Chidera has dedicated herself to arts education. She teaches oil painting and digital art to children and youth, giving them both technical skills and creative confidence. Her rebranding work for the Mount Royal University Conservatory and the University of Calgary’s Crowchild Classic showcases her versatility as a designer whose art influences institutional identity.
“I want people to see art not as a luxury but as a bridge—a way to connect, reflect, and build community,” she says. Looking ahead, Chidera envisions Dera Art Studio as a sustainable hub that merges fine art, design, and mentorship, amplifying diverse voices within Alberta’s creative ecosystem.
Website: www.derastudios.com
Email: ainfo@derastudios.com
Instagram: @dera.studio
Collective Impact: Lifting Others as We Rise
Together, these five honourees represent a vivid tapestry of Nigerian excellence, creativity,and service in Canada. From entrepreneurship and art to law and education, each embodies the Foundation’s core belief: that our greatest successes are those shared with others. The Rise Together Grant not only celebrates achievement—it invests in it. By empowering these leaders, the Charles Osuji Foundation continues its mission of nurturing potential, fostering leadership, and inspiring the next generation to dream bigger and give back.
As their journeys unfold, one truth remains constant: when one rises, we all rise together.