Folu Oloyede had always dreamed of visiting Canada.
So, when his sister invited him to Lethbridge to meet his new nephew, it was an easy decision to make. What Folu didn91裸聊视频檛 imagine then 91裸聊视频� what he couldn91裸聊视频檛 have imagined 91裸聊视频� is how quickly his life would change forever.
He booked a round-trip flight out of Nigeria, hugged his son and kissed his wife goodbye, and said he91裸聊视频檒l see them in a few months.
More than three years passed before he finally saw them again.
Sitting comfortably in a grey T-shirt embroidered with the Maven Lane logo above his heart, Folu91裸聊视频檚 wide smile masks the years of uncertainty that once weighed on his shoulders. Now an early childhood education (ECE) assistant, he91裸聊视频檚 just happy to be reunited with family and surrounded by friends in his new home.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a total coincidence that I91裸聊视频檓 here,91裸聊视频� Folu laughs. 91裸聊视频淭he plan was to meet my nephew, spend a few months in Canada and go back home to my four-year-old son and my wife.91裸聊视频�
His return flight was scheduled for April 2020. But, on March 11, the World Health Organization declared the start of the pandemic. Flights were cancelled, borders were closed, and before he knew it, Folu was stuck.
91裸聊视频淣igeria shut down its air space. I was stuck 91裸聊视频� I was stuck and all I had was a visitor91裸聊视频檚 permit. I couldn91裸聊视频檛 work, and I couldn91裸聊视频檛 bear not being with my family,91裸聊视频� Folu says.
Thankfully, he was able to stay with his sister, her husband and his nephew during the lockdown.
91裸聊视频淚 was thinking, maybe I can just see if there91裸聊视频檚 a plane, a way to get out of here. I thought maybe it would open up again in June or July,91裸聊视频� Folu recalls. 91裸聊视频淎nd then, in June, a new policy came out, and everything changed.91裸聊视频�
Travellers stuck in Canada on a visitor91裸聊视频檚 Visa could apply for a closed work permit without having to leave the country.
Folu went online and soon found a Nigerian family in Fort McMurray. They were looking for someone to take care of their two-year-old and put their seven-year-old through online schooling. As a high school biology and chemistry teacher, Folu was a great fit for the job, but he knew it would be temporary.
91裸聊视频淚 was travelling back and forth between Lethbridge and Fort McMurray for about a year, and then my sister91裸聊视频檚 husband got a job at the university in Kelowna,91裸聊视频� Folu says. 91裸聊视频淲hen they moved to the Okanagan, they asked me if I was going be OK in Fort McMurray on my own. I wasn91裸聊视频檛, really, so they started helping me look for other job opportunities.91裸聊视频�
Finding the RNIP program
Folu91裸聊视频檚 closed work permit meant he could only work with the family in Alberta, but there was a new immigration path for skilled professionals debuting in the North Okanagan: the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) program.
Launched in 2020, RNIP helps communities and businesses benefit from the immigration of skilled workers by creating a path to permanent residency. The North Okanagan was selected as one of two communities in B.C., and one of 11 in Canada, to participate.
After reaching out to Maven Lane about an open position in September 2021, the team quickly connected Folu with RNIP coordinator Ward Mercer.
91裸聊视频淚 assumed it was just going to be another work permit. I had no idea that the program would be a fast track to permanent residency,91裸聊视频� says Folu. 91裸聊视频淚 thought it would be another four years before I could bring my family to Canada.91裸聊视频�
Then, on Dec. 6, 2022, just over one year after first hearing about the RNIP program and nearly three years after getting stuck in Canada, Folu became a permanent resident. Four days later, his wife and son arrived in Vancouver.
91裸聊视频淲hen I was waiting to see my family again, I was just working on adrenaline. My mind was divided, but I had to be professional. I91裸聊视频檓 working with young kids, and they can tell when you aren91裸聊视频檛 totally focused,91裸聊视频� says Folu. 91裸聊视频淲hen my wife and son came here, my whole outlook on life changed. I felt whole again.91裸聊视频�
Finding his calling
Surrounded by young smiling faces every day, Folu says he91裸聊视频檚 found his calling at Maven Lane. In the fall, he plans on going back to school to become a full early childhood educator.
91裸聊视频淎fter university, I worked in the hospital with the state agency in Nigeria to help control HIV, but I always loved teaching and I eventually found myself teaching high school science,91裸聊视频� says Folu. 91裸聊视频淐oming to Canada and going back into education felt like a natural progression.91裸聊视频�
Only now, instead of teaching 17-year-olds about living organisms, he helps kids under three thrive.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e found my niche in being part of the development of children, shaping and moulding them and being a big part of their everyday lives. This isn91裸聊视频檛 something I91裸聊视频檓 doing to survive, it91裸聊视频檚 my purpose,91裸聊视频� says Folu. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 so rewarding when you see the light in their faces and they come to give you a hug first thing in the morning. I look forward to seeing them every day.91裸聊视频�
The RNIP program is made possible through funding from the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.
