Jennifer Chinenye Emelife has been announced as one of the recipients of the 2025 Flight 302 Legacy Award, a scholarship initiated by Transport Canada to honor the victims of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 tragedy.
The award, which supports students whose work reflects the passions and commitments of the 157 individuals lost in the 2019 crash, including 18 Canadians, recognizes Emelife’s dedication to carrying forward the legacies of intellectuals like Professor Pius Adesanmi.
Emelife shared her heartfelt reaction in a public statement, expressing both honor and humility at being selected saying:
“Feeling incredibly honoured to be one of the 2025 Flight 302 Legacy Award recipients. Applying for this award and going through the interview process was emotionally tough. But being selected reminds me why what I do matters.”
The Flight 302 Legacy Award, part of Transport Canada’s Commemoration Fund, offers 42 scholarships of $10,000 each for the 2024-2025 academic year, aimed at undergraduate and graduate students at accredited Canadian institutions.
The announcement comes on the heels of the sixth anniversary of the March 10, 2019, crash, which claimed all lives aboard the Boeing 737 MAX 8 shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa. Among the victims was Professor Pius Adesanmi, a celebrated academic at Carleton University, whose writings on governance and culture continue to inspire.
A Nigerian educator, writer, and literacy advocate dedicated to transforming education, particularly in conflict-affected regions, Jennifer Chinenye Emelife grew up in Sokoto where she witnessed firsthand the challenges of regional conflicts, which fueled her passion for education. She studied at Usmanu Danfodiyo University before earning a Master’s degree in International Education and Development from the University of Sussex.
Emelife is the founder of Teach for Change Nigeria, an initiative focused on improving literacy and critical thinking in schools. She has also received international recognition, including an Academic Enrichment grant to support literacy programs in Northern Nigeria. As a writer and literary critic, she advocates for educational reform and transparency in literary awards, using her platform to drive social change.
Congratulations Emelife!
Bakare Oluwatobiloba
I write to educate, motivate and define history with literature. Just being me!
