My CBU Story: Meet Patricia Azu

During her undergraduate program in her home country of Ghana, Patricia Azu worked on a project focused on using brown algae to clean polluted water of heavy metals. This project was inspired by her country’s struggles with illegal mining and the negative health implications that came along with metals like mercury being present in their water. Through her research, she learned that the miners had no idea their work was poisoning the water or that their own serious illnesses had been caused by these conditions. Thus, Patricia’s passion for employee knowledge and safety was born. 

When searching for the right place to foster this passion, Patricia found CBU’s Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management program and immediately knew it was what she wanted to pursue. “What I enjoyed most about my program was volunteering with the Girl STEM Saturday program on campus, where I got to teach young kids about my course,” she says. “We ran an activity meant to reinforce the concept that not all hazards are plain to see or easily recognizable at first glance. I wanted to help them understand that there are hazards associated with each profession and there will always be someone like me trying my best to keep them safe.”

The highlight of Patricia’s time at CBU was the internship opportunities she was able to pursue. Throughout her program, she secured internships with the Department of Justice and the Department of Labour Skills and Immigration, which taught her valuable skills she could apply in the classroom and the field following her graduation. 

During Patricia’s more difficult days, she says one thing remained a constant – the support from her family back home. “Whether it was their daily encouragement, financial support or the many links for job opportunities and courses to take, I definitely wouldn’t be here without them,” she says. “And I wish to say thank you and I love you dearly.”

What Patricia will miss the most about CBU is working on group projects, which allowed her to meet peers from all over the world with different backgrounds and fresh perspectives. She says the rush of adrenaline when the team was able to perfectly execute on a project is something she’ll never forget. 

As Patricia heads for the stage during the Spring 2025 Convocation, she wholeheartedly believes the sky is the limit for her future. “I’m just starting on a journey of endless possibilities and I plan to contribute as much as I can to any field I find myself working in,” she begins. “I can guarantee I will be applying the skills and lessons learned from my program and I know my fellow graduates share the same sentiment. We will face our next journeys head-on and excel in any space we find ourselves.”

Congratulations to Patricia and the entire Spring 2025 Graduating Class!