Shola Agboola is a Nigerian-Canadian politician and philanthropist. He is the President of Nigerian Association for Young Adults of Canada (NAYA). He is also the Goodwill Ambassador for Five Points Youth Foundation for Nigeria, Nigerians in the Diaspora and African Communities. In 2022, he became the first Black to be appointed as a member of the Conservative Party’s Leadership Election Organizing committee.
He has over 16 years of progressive experience in public administration, governance and public policy management working with the Department of Justice for the Government of Manitoba, Canada. He also have extensive knowledge in several key areas including social, economic and political engagement having served in many leadership positions in several high-profile non-profit organizations and government boards and commissions in Canada. He was the first Nigerian, the first African and the only black person to ever serve on the national Board of Directors of a major political party in Canada (Conservative Party of Canada)
As a major player within the Canadian political circle and an influential community person, he was once called by former Ministers Vic Toews Jason Kenney) to review policies to ensure they align with our Manitoban communities because of his educational background and experience. He was also invited by Scott Lamb, the President of CP in 2016 to help restructure and revitalize Canada’s Conservative party ahead of the 2019 federal elections.
He has a strong foothold in Canada as well as Nigeria and a good understanding of both cultures (Nigeria and Canada) that has made him a critical part of the Canadian advantage in building ties with Nigeria. He is able to broker contacts on both sides of the countries and can bring together leaders, captains of industry, government leaders, academics and other relevant stakeholders to help promote and strengthen policy the framework that is conducive to long-term sustainable developments in Nigeria and Canada.
As the president of the most vibrant and largest youth organization in Canada (NAYA Canada), he has led the organization to undertake over $60 million dollars’ worth of social investment in Nigeria in the last 7 years. Through the registration of NAYA-USA in California and his recent appointment as Goodwill Ambassador with a reputable nonprofit organization in the United States (Five Points Youth Foundation), he has significant leverage and influence to bring out collaborative relationships between Nigeria and the United States of America as the bridge to Asian, BRICS and global economies.
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
Shola was born in Oro, Kwara State, Nigeria. He attended Primary and secondary school in Oro. He graduated from Oro Grammar school in 1990. While in Oro Grammar School, he was a member of literacy and debating society and he used to represent his school at debate competitions. He was also the Social Prefect for two years as his set was the first of the 6-3-3-4 system of education.
Later, he proceeded to University of Ilorin where he studied Biological Science and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1996. He did the one-year mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Kebbi State. During his service year, he was appointed as a general leader at the camp and was later elected as Corper Liaison Officer (CLO) in Jega Local Government Area, his Local Government of Primary Assignment.
When he migrated to Canada, he pursued a Diploma course in Computer Science in Red Rivers College and graduated in 2001. He later enrolled in University of Manitoba for Masters in Public Administration and graduated with Distinction in 2014
CAREER
- Member – Board of Directors Conservative Party of Canada, Canada.
- Goodwill Ambassador for Five Points Youth Foundation, Los Angeles, USA for Nigerians, Nigerians in Diaspora and African Communities.
- Ambassador for Manitoba Government Ambassadors Initiative, Canada.
- International Ambassador for Nigerian Unity Museum &Trade Tourism Village (NUMATVILLE), Abuja-Dubai.
- North American Coordinator, Oodua Progressive Union North America, Canada-USA-Mexico.
- Co-Facilitator – Leaders in Training Program (LTP) Government of Manitoba, Canada (2017-2018).
- Committee Member – Diversity & Employment Equity Government of Manitoba, Canada (2016-2018).
- Director of Youth Mobilization, African Canadian Cultural Heritage Council (ACCHC) (2016-2019
- President, Wolseley Electoral District Association (EDA), Conservative Party of Canada, Canada (2014-2016).
- Community Liaison Officer, African Working Group (AWG), University of Manitoba. Winnipeg, Manitoba (2014-2018).
- Training Assistant, Department of Justice, Government of Manitoba, Canada (2012-2014).
- Program Coordinator, Department of Justice, Government of Manitoba, Canada (2010-2012).
- Correctional Officer, Department of Justice, Government of Manitoba, Canada.
- Member, African Canadian Foundation, Canada’s Board of Director (2012-2016)
- Secretary General, Oranmiyan Foundation of Canada, Canada (2012-2014).
- Committee Leader, Social & Networking Committee, Government of Manitoba’s Visible Minority Network (GOV-VMN), Canada (2010-2012).
He is the current National President of Nigerian Association for Young Adults Inc., (Canada-USA)
NAYA is a non-profit organization registered and incorporated with the Government of Canada. It is the largest Nigerian association in Canada and the first to have national affiliations and membership across all regions and provinces of Canada. As a vibrant organization for over 19 years of existence in Canada, NAYA has institutionalized itself both in Canada and Nigeria as an organization with a clear vision for social, economic and political development. Because NAYA is committed to providing a sustainable platform for positive youth and social development to strengthen communities through our humanitarian services on education, health care, social and political empowerment, we have the tendency to inspire new generations of young Nigerians to be builders of a better society
NAYA demonstrated this through our various programs and activities both in Canada and Nigeria. Under Shola Agboola’s leadership, NAYA has made significant social investments in Nigeria in many sectors such as Health Care, Education, ICT and Computer funding and provision worth over $57 million dollars across many parts of Nigeria within the last 7 years. The Association has donated free medical equipment and supplies to many hospitals and medical centres in Kebbi, Niger, Imo, Bayelsa, Abia, Jigawa, Ogun, and Osun states. Also, it has made free donations of hundreds of laptop and desktop computer systems, thousands of secondary and postsecondary textbooks across the country to help in the education sector as well as thousands of free distributions of clothing in rural communities for poverty alleviation programs.
Political Positions Held
- Former President – Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba (MB Wolsely Constituency)
- Former Policy Director – Conservative Party of Canada (MB West End Constituency)
- Past Chairman – Election Task Force Committee (2016) Board of Director – Conservative Party of Canada (MB West End Constituency)
- Member – MB Multicultural Advisory Board Awards
- Certificate of Merit – Conservative Party of Canada
- Award of Honour – Conservative Party of Canada
- Personal Achievement Award – Vigour International Awards, Canada
- Certificate of Personal Achievement – Canadian Muslim Leadership Institute
- Award of Honour – Osun State Government (2015)
- Award of Honour – Osun State Government (2016) Training
- Award of Recognition – Osun State Yoruba Broadcasters
AWARDS RECEIVED
- Award of Honour – Conservative Party of Canada
- Personal Achievement Award – Vigour International Awards, Canada
- Certificate of Personal Achievement – Canadian Muslim Leadership Institute
- Award of Honour – Osun State Government (2015)
- Award of Honour – Osun State Government (2016) Training
- Award of Recognition – Osun State Yoruba Broadcasters
- Award of Recognition – Nigerian Professionals in Manitoba (NPIM)
- Mahatma Ghandi Community Service Award – Mahatma Ghandi Centre of Canada (2022).
SAGA FOUNDATION
Shola Agboola Goodwill Ambassador Foundation Inc. (SAGA) https://sagafoundationinc.org/ is a nonprofit organization established to help address poverty issues, education opportunities and economic development. The Foundation strives to achieve its goals by providing sustainable platforms for positive youth and social development to strengthen communities through our humanitarian services on education, health care, social and political empowerment.
SAGA Foundation was launched in Nigeria in 2020 and it partnered with International Hope Canada to send a container of medical supplies and equipment to India during their COVID crisis. Agboola also helped deliver large quantities of medical supplies to other countries in Asia and Africa during the pandemic.
