On Thursday, January 30, PRUDE Inc. proudly celebrated a momentous milestone—the graduation of Cohort 16 from the Newcomer Women Leadership Program (NWLP) led by Christine Eruokwu! Surrounded by an incredible community of supporters, our graduates were honored in the presence of PRUDE Inc. Executive Director Jackson Enoh, Board President Karen Hachey, dedicated staff, and well-wishers including past NWLP graduate Youssra Imane Aissaoui . We were also joined by esteemed guests from the City of Saint John, including Councillor Mariah Darling, Councillor Paula Radwan, and Kateri Hibbert.
Our community partners showed up in full support, with representatives from:
✔️ RBC Foundation – Trish Vardy & Jasmine Thanh-Tuong Nguyen
✔️ Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce – Mike Sadavoy
✔️ Saint John Newcomer Centre – Oyinda Adeyemi
✔️ The Black Bear Canadian Immigration Services – Kash Khan
✔️ YMCA of Southwestern New Brunswick (and past NWLP graduates) – Rahab Moukhtar & Chidiogo Ezenwaka
Our Newcomer Women Leadership Program (NWLP) is more than a program—it’s a catalyst for growth, a celebration of leadership and community. The graduation marked the culmination of their dedication, perseverance, and commitment to personal and professional growth. They have embraced new knowledge, shared experiences, and built lasting connections that will continue to shape their leadership journey.
The event was a true multicultural celebration, enriched by a beautiful spread of cultural dishes prepared by our graduates—each dish telling a story of heritage, resilience, and unity.
During the ceremony, we recognized outstanding graduates in three major categories:
Most Volunteered Hours – PRUDE Inc. contributes over 200+ community service hours per cohort. This award recognizes the graduate with the highest number of volunteer hours. Recipient: Akor Nuuk (with 52 hours)
Most Featured in Community Connection Events – This award honours the participant who attended the most networking events, community tours, and Saturday morning hikes, fostering deeper community ties. Recipient: Angelica Lopez
Leadership Excellence Award – Presented to participants who demonstrated outstanding leadership, communication, and peer support, applying the lessons learned to uplift others. Recipients: Kemika Panton-Green, Akor Nuuk, and Marieiling Aguilar
Congratulations to all our award winners! Your dedication and commitment inspire us all!
To our graduates: Each of you came into this program with unique stories, aspirations, and challenges—and you left with newfound confidence, purpose, and a strong support system.
You have proven that leadership is about action, resilience, and impact. Whether you’re launching a business, growing your career, or championing community initiatives, remember that leadership is not about titles—it’s about the difference you make. Keep striving, keep leading and keep believing in yourself. Whenever, doubts and fear arise, be guided by the words of Harriet Tubman on your leadership journey “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”
This program would not be possible without the funding from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the unwavering support of RBC Foundation! A huge thank you to our incredible guest speakers, PRUDE Inc. staff, volunteers, and everyone who contributed to making this graduation a success!
As we celebrate Cohort 16’s achievements, we invite interested newcomer women to join the next NWLP cohort in April 2025! If you’re looking for an opportunity to build leadership skills, grow your network, and create lasting impact, register today. Take the first step in your leadership journey.
Shoutout to Natazha Lagrimas and Andre Abaoag for capturing these memorable moments!
Once again, congratulations, Cohort 16! The future is yours—go and lead boldly!
