Afolake Awoyiga is an African Canadian registered social worker, researcher, and PhD in Health student at Dalhousie University. She works as a clinical social worker in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at IWK Health, where she provides Africentric, trauma-informed, and family-centred support to families navigating complex perinatal and neonatal challenges. Her doctoral research focuses on understanding the experiences of Black mothers of NICU infants and the impact of neonatal hospitalization on their mental health and well-being, with the goal of informing culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and equity-oriented neonatal care practices. Drawing on her clinical expertise and commitment to health equity, her work centers Black maternal health, mental health, and community-engaged research. Afolake is also a part-time academic sessional instructor at Dalhousie University’s School of Social Work, co-founder of the Generation 1 Leadership Initiative (G1LI), and founder of the Global Social Workers Alliance of the Maritimes (GSWAM). Through these initiatives, she advances mentorship, education, leadership development, and advocacy for youth of African descent, as well as internationally educated, immigrant, and racialized social workers. She serves on the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women and is a member of the Board of Examiners and Complaints Committee of the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers. Through these roles, she contributes to advancing women’s health, equity, professional accountability, and excellence in social work practice. In 2025, she was recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Black Women to Watch for her leadership and contributions to health, education, and community development.