African Studies celebrates 10 years since endowment of Dream Maker Award with selection of 10 new student recipients

July 16, 2024 by Coby Zucker - A&S News

Arts & Science’s African Studies Centre is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the “groundbreaking” Dream Maker Realty/Olowolafe Family Award.

Created by Isaac Olowolafe, a U of T alum, real estate and tech venture entrepreneur and community leader, the endowment was a first for African Studies at U of T.

“I saw it as a way to start building institutional relationships,” says Olowolafe, who earned his bachelor of arts in 2007 at the University of Toronto Mississauga. “Not only for me and my family, but also for the Black community as a whole.”

“It was groundbreaking,” says Marieme Lo, director of the African Studies Centre. “Over the award’s lifespan of 10 years, so many students have benefited from this generosity. That is the legacy he has left on the program.”

This year, the Dream Maker Award was handed out to 10 high-achieving students at African Studies — students like Larauche Akaffou, who is working toward his honours bachelor of arts in political science.

“I felt really proud of myself,” Akaffou says.

Akaffou has always been interested in African history and politics, but hadn’t had the opportunity to take classes in the subject until he got to U of T.

Marieme Lo and Isaac Olowolafe sitting on a stage presenting information.
Marieme Lo and Isaac Olowolafe have known one another for years. Photo: Courtesy of Marieme Lo.

“My classes in African studies have been some of my favourite at university,” Akaffou says. “I felt like it was a huge honour to get selected for this award.”

Akaffou, a football player like Olowolafe, says he is inspired by Olowolafe’s success and desire to give back.

“Having mentors like Isaac makes me want to give back in the future when I finish here as well,” Akaffou says.

Olowolafe was just 25 when he endowed the award.

"Because I had success early, I felt I should start giving back early as well as a way of saying thanks,” Olowolafe says. “It was always important to start my giving journey at University of Toronto because of the brand the university has, not only in Canada but across the world.”

Olowolafe chose to support African studies because it ties back to the community he and his organization, Dream Makers, want to impact.

“Everything we do as an organization is focused on creating an economic, sustainable pathway for Black and underrepresented communities,” he says. “I think the award really created a conversation that needed to be had.”

“I have gratitude for the university giving me the opportunity to think of and structure an endowment like this. It's just been great to see the impact it has had and, because it’s an endowment, the impact it will continue to have.”

A $5-million donation from alum Richard Rooney was announced in February to the African Studies Centre and the Centre for Caribbean Studies. The gift will go toward endowing professorships and prestigious postdoctoral fellowships.

“Looking back, we can see how changemakers like Isaac and Richard — these exemplary and inspiring donors — have been shaping the history of the programs in different times,” Lo says.

Olowolafe and Lo feel the monetary aspect of the Dream Maker Award, while important, is only one facet of an idea with bigger scope. Olowolafe was inspired to donate by seeing names on scholarships and on buildings, and understanding the importance for those who could resonate with that name.

“All the gestures he has made, all the initiatives he has taken over the years in support to students, the caring ethics he embodies in his initiatives, giving back to communities, giving back to the youth and being a role model and an inspiration to them, are truly inspiring,” says Lo. “These are all just wonderful contributions that go beyond the donation and amplify its long-lasting impacts.”

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