Canada Day: Maple Ridge immigrant couple appreciates their new country

Published 11:45 am Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Tokunbo and Olu Oladokun appreciate that Canada celebrates multiculturalism. (Neil Corbett/The News)

Olu and Tokunbo Oladokun came to Canada from Nigeria to give their four children a better future. (Neil Corbett/The News)

Giving their four children the best possible future was at the forefront of a Maple Ridge couple’s decision to move to Canada.

With Canada Day coming, Olu and Tokunbo Oladokun talked about their new home, and the home they left.

Both worked as professionals in their homeland Nigeria – Olu as a teacher, and his wife Tokunbo in finance, and they should have had a good life there. But the country is plagued by crime, violence, and economic hardship. Terrorism is brought by the jihadist organization Boko Haram, and armed criminal gangs steal, and kidnap for ransom. An estimated 62 per cent of the population is living in poverty. Food prices are subject to out-of-control inflation, there are limited job opportunities, and the currency is severely devalued.

“Security concerns is the big thing, and the cost of living has skyrocketed – the economy is really bad,” said Tokunbo.

Olu described a dangerous situation his mother was in, as she travelled to attend a funeral. In the compound where she stayed, five men broke in with guns and machetes, robbed people staying in other rooms. They stole money, cell phones, and other valuables, and left some of their victims with gruesome machete injuries. His mother was not one of the victims, but only by good fortune that they didn’t break into her unit.

“We wanted better quality of life, and more prospects for the kind of education our children could have,” said Tokunbo. “We felt emigrating would be good for them.”

Their family is part of a mass emigration seeing millions of skilled professionals and young people leaving every year.

Tokunbo worked as a branch manager at First Bank of Nigeria, until her journey away from her home country began in 2019, when she came to Vancouver to take courses in business at BCIT.

For three years she missed her children, but she was determined to become a Canadian, and bring them to a new home. She got permanent resident status, and at that point, could bring family to Canada.

“The first thing I noticed about Canada is the courtesy, politeness,” she said, noting pleasantries like a bus driver who thanks a customer was a novelty.

“And you can sleep with your two eyes closed,” Tokunbo added. “Everywhere is safe. That’s something I really appreciate.”

She has been able to become a citizen, and teaches at the University of Canada West as a professor of business ethics and strategic business management. She is working on a doctorate.

Her family has joined her. Olu has worked as a labourer at a cabinet making company, as a kitchen assistant, and as a care aide, but now has gained recognition of his qualifications, and is a certified educator. He is an on-call teacher in the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows school district.

Their children are thriving. Their oldest is 21, about to finish his studies as a mechanical engineer, and all of their children are attending university – even their 16-year-old.

“Back in Nigeria your age doesn’t determine your grade, it’s your aptitude,” explained Tokunbo, so her youngest was able to graduate early from Thomas Haney Secondary.

Her children have benefited from student loans, which she said are another “wonderful thing” about Canada.

Despite its problems, there are things they miss about Nigeria.

“The main thing is family,” said Yokunbo, adding “And there is a community way of living in Nigeria that we don’t have in Canada.”

She said neighbours in her homeland become an extended family, and that’s missed. And so is her traditional food.

The Tokunbos have received help from organizations such as WorkBC, Immigrant Services Society of BC, the YWCA, Douglas College, and from MP Marc Dalton’s office.

“They’re very helpful to new immigrants,” she said.

They plan to celebrate Canada Day, and Tokunbo said she especially enjoys Maple Ridge’s celebration of Multiculturalism Day, which is coming up on June 27.

“I like the fact that the multicultural nature of Canada is celebrated,” she said.

“We allow people to be proud of their heritage.”