We are delighted to spotlight Ifeoluwa (Ife) Olalere, a distinguished Mastercard Foundation Scholar Alum. Ife graduated in 2022 with a Master of Food and Resource Economics from the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Land and Food Systems. Currently, he serves as a Project and Strategic Planning Analyst for the City of Edmonton, Alberta.
Life After Graduation
Since graduating, Ife has been on a remarkable journey of professional and personal growth. He has honed his skills and leveraged various resources to identify his strengths and areas for improvement, guiding his career development. In his role with the City of Edmonton, Ife is spearheading the development of an Urban Agricultural program. His responsibilities include conducting research, feasibility studies, policy reviews, business case development, and making recommendations to the city council.
Community Engagement and Mentorship
Giving back to the community is a core value for Ife. He has been actively mentoring undergraduate students in Nigeria, focusing on academic excellence, time management, research, career choices, and navigating graduate school applications and scholarships. His mentees have achieved remarkable successes, with some graduating at the top of their classes and others beginning graduate programs across Nigeria, Europe, and North America this fall.
Volunteer Work
Ife’s commitment to community service extends beyond mentorship. In April 2024, he participated in the Corporate Clean-up Challenge with the Downtown Revitalization Coalition, contributing to garbage pick-up and clean-up efforts to revitalize downtown Edmonton. Additionally, in September 2023, he volunteered for the City of Edmonton’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. As part of the Operation Indigenous Framework Tree Planting, he planted eight trees of different species, enriching the planet, beautifying the city, and combating climate change.
Words of Wisdom
Ife believes in the importance of continuous professional and personal development and the value of building strong relationships with colleagues and staying connected.
Exciting News
We are thrilled to share that Ife will be starting a new role as a Senior Policy Analyst with the Government of Alberta in June. We look forward to seeing the impact he will continue to make in this new position.
Join us in celebrating Ifeoluwa Olalere’s achievements and his dedication to making a difference in his community and profession. His journey exemplifies the spirit of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, and we are proud to have him as part of our alumni network.
Stay tuned for more updates on Mastercard Foundation Scholars’ journeys and other inspiring stories from our Mastercard Foundation Scholar Alumni.