Purboo Family Scholarship supports Black students’ academic journey and future success

Drs. Nigela and Wayne Purboo actively weave a culture of giving into the fabric of their lives, whether it be at home with their three sons, out in their community or through their business ventures. 

At Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), this culture of giving now extends through the Purboo Family Scholarship, which awards $5,000 to four Black students annually to help offset educational expenses and enhance their continued success as they transition into the workforce. 

“We hope that this scholarship will play a pivotal role in each of the students’ lives, giving them the freedom to focus on their studies and worry less about expenses like tuition, rent and books,” said Nigela, a tireless advocate for education and anti-racism. “We also hope that this support will help each worthy recipient earn their degree, land a role that they will enjoy, and to become financially independent, building generational wealth for themselves and their families.”

Nigela and Wayne are co-founders of the Onyx Initiative, a non-profit organization which aims to close the systemic gap in the hiring, retention and promotion of Black college and university students and recent graduates for roles in corporate Canada. At the heart of the Purboos’ expansive philanthropic efforts, including with the establishment of Onyx, is a guiding principle inspired by the famous Nelson Mandela quote, “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.”

“We established this scholarship because we want to ensure that Black students know that we understand their circumstances,” said Wayne, a serial entrepreneur in the media and telecom industries. He cites a lack of financial support, as well as a lack of key social networks, as contributing factors that make it more difficult for Black students to achieve their post-secondary dreams. “Many Black students face challenges that their white counterparts and others don’t encounter, and we want them to know that there are people who care about them, their outcomes, and are willing to lighten their burden and make their lives a little easier.”

The Purboo Family Scholarship is recognized as part of the President’s Awards to Champion Equity (PACE), a program that supports under-represented and equity deserving students. It also aligns with the work of the university's Black Scholarship Institute (BSI), which promotes Black individuals flourishing in academia and facilitates initiatives that have generational impact. 

“The TMU community is grateful to Nigela and Wayne Purboo for creating pathways that support Black students and, by extension, Black flourishing at TMU. Eliminating financial barriers to education is key to dismantling systemic racism and overcoming economic disparities,” said Dr. Grace-Camille Munroe, director of the BSI. “Creating change is a community effort. This is what Ubuntu is all about.” 

In Bantu African cultures, Ubuntu often emphasizes the interconnectedness among people. In Munroe’s words, the Purboo Family Scholarship says to students, “we see you, we value you, you are important. We care about your success and well-being, today and into the future.”

Adrian Omoruyi, one of the inaugural recipients of the Purboo Family Scholarship, is currently in his third-year, studying computer engineering. “I was really surprised when I got the news! It made me very happy to tell my mom and celebrate with her because I understand how hard she and my dad have worked to put me in a position to go to post-secondary,” said Omoruyi. “I feel like this is more of a victory for them than for me.”

Omoruyi discovered he would receive the scholarship just as he and his family were discussing a plan to cover his tuition for the winter semester. “This was timed perfectly. I will use the funds to pay my tuition, which will definitely ease the burden on my father who is currently our only source of income.” After he graduates, Omoruyi aspires to work in the tech industry as a software developer. 

“Since high school, I have spent time in different organizations promoting the professional development of Black students and I hope to use my experiences to expand the reach of these efforts,” said Omoruyi. To the Purboo family, he added, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I can’t express how much joy this brought to my family during the Christmas season. In the future, I hope that I can pay it forward and support Black students the way that you have assisted me.”

The Purboos credit their parents and the strong supportive families they grew up in for instilling in them a sense of generosity and the desire to help others succeed. “We really feel good about helping others,” said Wayne. Twice a year, when he was growing up and his family returned to their hometown in Jamaica, Wayne recalled his parents packing a shipping barrel of needed items for the entire community.  

“We want to leave the world a better place than we found it,” said Nigela, who recalled her mother’s dedication to volunteerism at her local hospital and church.

In June 2023, Nigela and Wayne each received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from TMU. Their advice to students, both during their joint commencement speech and now, is to be resilient and to believe in themselves, even in the midst of any seemingly insurmountable challenges that may come their way. But more specifically, the Purboos would like to convey to the recipients of their scholarship that this opportunity is not just about their belief in them. It is also a reminder of each students’ self-worth and a chance for them to leverage this achievement to do great things.