Left to right: Barbara Blays and Afolake Awoyiga. Photo by Ryan Wilson.
Two IWK clinicians are being honoured this fall on a national level. Barbara Blays and Afolake Awoyiga have been selected as two of Canada’s Top 100 Black Women to Watch of 2025.
Canada International Black Women Excellence (CIBWE) selects 100 women annually who have achieved groundbreaking milestones, shattered barriers in their careers, and are making a lasting impact in their communities and beyond.
Blays, IWK’s advance support lead for internationally educated nurses (IEN), was nominated and selected for her consistent and passionate commitment to equity and education. Whether she is supporting internationally educated nurses in the workplace, advancing health education for immigrant women in her community, or advocating for Black nurses across many boards and organizations, her focus is always on seeing everyone as whole, capable, and worthy.
“I believe everyone has something valuable to contribute—and when given equal opportunity and support, we all have the potential to shine like stars,” says Blays.
A social worker in IWK’s NICU, Awoyiga is being recognized for her professional work in health care in combination with her longstanding commitment to community advocacy. Her work bridges clinical care with broader systemic change as she supports families in critical times, and advocates for culturally safe, family-centred approaches to care. In community, she leads her own organization, Generation 1 Leadership Initiative, teaches at Dalhousie University and advocates with African Immigrant Social Workers Alliance of the Maritimes (AISWAM), among others.
“I’ve worked to create supportive spaces and leadership opportunities for marginalized groups. This community involvement, along with my family and personal lived experience, has been just as important as my clinical role,” says Awoyiga.
All 100 recipients will be celebrated at the Black Pearls Gala in October, recognizing the phenomenal achievements of a group of women who are not just making waves, but creating entire oceans of change in their communities and professional spheres. For both Blays and Awoyiga, they feel great pride in being selected as honourees, but also great responsibility.
“Being selected filled me with a profound sense of responsibility to inspire and uplift women, especially young Black women. This recognition validates my journey from Ghana to Canada, and my unwavering commitment to supporting IENs who have chosen IWK Health as their workplace and Nova Scotia as their home,” says Blays. "To my two daughters, and to every Black girl out there, never doubt your inner voice. Never give up. Know your worth, push harder, and believe, because there is light at the end of the tunnel, and your time is coming.”
“I see this award as both a recognition and a responsibility. It motivates me to keep mentoring the next generation, to continue advocating for culturally responsive health care, and to hold the door open for others who are often overlooked,” says Awoyiga. “Being recognized at a national level as a Black woman in health and community leadership means that the stories, struggles, and successes of Black families and communities are being seen and valued. It inspires me to continue creating pathways for others and to keep advocating for equity and culturally responsive care.”