Husband and wife chart new course, with CNA as their anchor
Trading successful careers, a vibrant city life, and year-round tropical warmth for the complete unknown of a small island in the frigid North Atlantic might not sound like a bright idea.
However, for Omotayo Mabayoje, Tolulope Olatunji, and their two children, it was a move of hope, opportunity, and new beginnings.
Originally from Nigeria and living in the bustling city of Lagos, they decided to move to Canada for personal growth, education, and a safe environment for their children.
Omotayo is now a data analyst with College of the North Atlantic’s (CNA) Institutional Research team, turning numbers into insights that guide decisions and shape planning throughout the college.
Tolulope recently graduated from CNA’s Community Leadership Development program, where she learned to lead and support initiatives that create positive social change.
“Newfoundland wasn’t even in the picture at first,” said Omotayo. “And then I did everything in my power to be in St. John’s. But because my wife’s program wasn’t offered there, we had no choice.”
“I told myself, ‘I’m not going to Stephenville,’” he laughed.
However, go to Stephenville they did.
Tolulope remembers her first impressions clearly.
“Honestly, when I arrived, my first thought was, ‘Wow, this is a really small and quiet town!’ – totally different from what I was used to,” she recalled.
Life in Nigeria
Before coming to Newfoundland, both Omatayo and Tolulope were well established in their careers at home.
Omotayo worked for the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in the Public Health Informatics unit as a data officer. He helped lead a national project to digitize the country’s health information systems, transitioning from paper-based to digital reporting.
Tolulope’s academic path included an undergraduate degree in philosophy and a Master’s degree in Business Administration.
It was her desire for a career change – and her passion for creating positive social impact – that led her to CNA’s Community Leadership Development program.
“I chose the CLD program at CNA because it aligned with my values and future goals,” she said.
“When I began the program, what stood out to me was how respectful and approachable the instructors were,” she continued. “It was comforting to be able to speak with them openly, even about personal matters, without fear of judgment or dismissal.”
While supporting his wife’s ambitions, Omotayo said he had his own career to consider.
“In Nigeria, my career had reached a point where I didn’t want to start from scratch anywhere,” he said. “It was really difficult to leave, but I told myself I had to sacrifice whatever it took for my family.”
In fact, Omatayo and their two daughters didn’t come to Newfoundland with Tolulope at first.
She blazed the trail for her family by arriving in late summer 2023 and starting her studies that September.
It wasn’t until February 2024 that Omatayo and the girls joined her, giving her time to establish a support network.
“It was really difficult,” he admitted. “We came in February at the peak of winter.”
Settling in
Arriving in the depths of winter without a vehicle meant plenty of long walks and taxi rides. But Omotayo says the kindness of the people around them made those early challenges easier to bear.
“The people here are amazing,” he said. “They made it so easy for us… in spite of all the challenges, one strong thing that seemed to cover it all was the people.”
“I arrived ahead of them and had already built a support system through my church,” said Tolulope.
Omatayo said that community helped set up their house, checked in regularly, and often brought groceries.
Overcoming challenges
“Before coming here, so many questions filled my head,” Omotayo said. “What will the people be like? What is the level of acceptability?”
Tolulope said that while many people have been welcoming, acceptance has sometimes been a challenge.
“We have had to deal with some misconceptions about immigrants,” she said. “There is still work to be done in encouraging sincere acceptance and inclusion.”
The couple has been doing their best to share Nigerian culture with their new community.
In winter 2025, they – along with other Nigerians in the area – organized a Nigerian Cultural Night at the Masonic Lodge during Stephenville Winter Carnival.
The event was a smash hit, with so many people showing up that some had to be turned away when the venue reached capacity.
“It was an amazing event,” said Omotayo. “Many had no idea what life in Nigeria is actually like. We achieved what we intended – bringing diversity into Stephenville and letting people learn about the outside world.”
Tolulope added, “It meant a great deal to me and other Nigerians. Some attendees even shared that the event helped change their perception of Nigerians.”
Living like locals
Since settling in, Omotayo has been busy trying activities unique to the area — kayaking, hiking, fishing, disc golf, and pickleball – often thanks to his supervisor, Greg Hovey, CNA’s Manager of Institutional Research.
“There have been lots of firsts for Omotayo and his family lately,” said Hovey. “It’s been fun to see them embracing life here in Newfoundland.”
Omatayo admits he didn’t tell his wife he was going kayaking the first time, knowing she’d try to talk him out of it.
“The funny thing is my wife called when I was in the middle of it and did a video call. I purposely picked up and showed her – she screamed, ‘What?!’ and immediately hung up,” he laughed.
“I sent the pictures of me kayaking to my family back in Nigeria,” he added. “They were like, ‘Are you crazy?’”
He was also surprised to learn that he could catch his own food so easily in Stephenville.
“When I first arrived, I’d never fished in my life,” he said. “My girls eat a lot of mackerel, and someone told me, ‘You don’t have to buy it – it’s everywhere here.’”
He promptly went to Canadian Tire, bought a rod, and went fishing with a friend.
“Since then, the rod’s been sitting in my car. I’m just waiting for someone to take me again.”
Planning for the future
“One thing I know is that Newfoundland is home for us,” said Omotayo.
He recalled being offered a good job in British Columbia just two months after arriving in Canada but turned it down because it required relocating. “I wanted the job so badly, but my family comes first,” he said.
“We just want to take it as it comes and not overstress about things we have no control over,” he explained. “For now, we are in Stephenville and want to enjoy it until we decide on the next phase for us.”
Tolulope said her plan is to continue her education and pursue her passion for serving humanity.
“One of my long-term goals is to be a strong advocate, especially for children and youth,” she explained. “To fulfill this vision, I need to further develop my knowledge and skills, which is why I plan to pursue a master’s degree in community engagement, social change, and equity.”
“This is a new beginning, a time for me to step into new opportunities and begin living out the vision I have carried for so long.”
Wherever the winds carry them next, one thing is certain: Newfoundland has left its mark on Omotayo and Tolulope – and they on it.
