Adebola Adefioye, executive director of Sudbury’s Afro Women and Youth Foundation, was named one of the 2024 honourees as part of 100ABC Women (100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women) for her outstanding leadership, advocacy and community development.
Adefioye immigrated to Canada in 2016 and started her career as a thrift store worker in Toronto. Eight years later, she has grown personally and professionally to become a college professor, owner of Adebola Adefioye Consulting (AAC) and at the Afro Women and Youth Foundation (AWYF), a non-profit that she founded five years ago.
“She is a great inspiration and mentor to many women and girls in Canada and Nigeria and we are so proud of her achievements,” reads a release from 100ABC Women.
The honourees were celebrated on Sept 28 at Woodbine Banquet Hall, Etobicoke, for their visible accomplishments and impactful work in their various communities and professions. Adefioye has won several awards including the 2023 100 Top Black Women in Canada, 2021 Ontario Premier’s Award, 2020 United Way Toronto Black Leadership Award, 2022 YWCA Sudbury Women of Distinction, the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Award, 2024 Afro Heritage Sudbury Community Builder, 2023 Rising Star Award at PARO Women’s Enterprise and $5,000 Adebola Adefioye Scholarship from the Ontario Ministry of Universities and Colleges.
The scholarship is awarded to a marginalized full-time student (Black, disabled or 2SLGBTQ+) in the Honours Bachelor of Child Development degree program or the Early Childhood Education diploma program.
