Beyond BHM: Graduate Student Parents

Beyond Black History Month featuring Salome Chidinma Chika-Igbokwe

PhD student Salome Chidinma Chika-Igbokwe, from the School of Public Health at the University of Saskatchewan, brings more than a decade of public health research experience to her graduate journey. Originally from Nigeria and a mother of three daughters, she is committed to improving access to health services for underserved communities. As part of its Beyond Black History Month series, the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) Diversity Committee celebrates Salome’s contributions to research and the supportive spaces she has created for fellow Black graduate students.

Salome’s journey to Canada began with six months of remote study while awaiting her study visa. Once approved, she made the difficult decision to relocate alone, leaving her husband and two young daughters in Nigeria. Arriving in Saskatoon pregnant, she continued her doctoral education while supporting her family from afar. Balancing graduate studies and motherhood has required clear priorities, difficult trade-offs, self-discipline, and social support, particularly while navigating financial pressures and the demands of recovery after childbirth.

Before relocating, Salome worked as a research manager in Nigeria, leading large-scale implementation research projects focused on the health of women, children, and vulnerable populations. That experience shaped her commitment to equitable, evidence-based public health interventions. In 2024, she became the first University of Saskatchewan recipient of the Margaret McNamara Education Grant and founded the Black Graduate Students Association in Saskatchewan, creating opportunities for support and mentorship among Black graduate students.

Her commitment to community well-being also extends beyond campus. In 2025, Salome served as Fundraising and Stewardship Lead for the Canadian Cancer Society’s CIBC Run for the Cure, helping the initiative raise $284,503. Looking ahead, she hopes to continue advancing initiatives that promote equity and improve well-being for underserved communities. Her graduate journey demonstrates how public health experience, parenthood, and community leadership can inform a sustained commitment to supporting others.