Rotimi Fadiya says it was easy to choose McMaster as the university where he would study engineering.

“The first time I cam here was an amazing experience,” recalls Fadiya, now a third-year Electrical and Biomedical Engineering student. “The community was vibrant. The scenery was beautiful. I just loved the campus.”

On April 25, the Black Business and Professional Association is to recognize Fadiya’s achievements as a Scotiabank Scholar during its annual Harry Jerome Awards in Toronto.

“There are a lot of talented strong black individuals and students out there who are in situations that make it difficult to pursue a post-secondary education,” Fadiya says. “Just knowing there’s that support out there, knowing that there are people who want to see them succeed, I think, it’s very important to make that clear to them.”

In this video, which is to be shown at the awards, Fadiya discusses the value of that kind of support.