When Seun Ogungbile moved to Canada from Nigeria in 2017, she brought with her years of experience as a practiced pharmacist. But rebuilding her career wasn’t easy – she quickly found herself navigating a maze of licensing exams, steep re-accreditation costs, and the daunting task of starting from scratch in a new healthcare system.
As a pharmacist in her home country, Ogungbile (pictured above) was able to assess, recommend, and prescribe medications. But her first job in her field in Canada was as a pharmacy assistant in Ontario, with far less autonomy and scope than she knew she could handle.
“I had done my research and had a detailed plan before I moved to Canada, but there were still some surprises,” said Ogungbile. “It was challenging to be under-employed, but I kept focusing on my end goal.”
Determined to succeed in Canada, Ogungbile took her first steps in 2018 towards rebuilding her career and prepared for her licensing exams. By the end of 2018, she had passed two of the three exams required to become a Canadian licensed pharmacist, however the strain of balancing work and study along with high exam fees loomed large.
“Life sometimes doesn’t work out as planned, I failed that third exam… and that was not something I had ever planned for,” Ogungbile said.
Helping skilled immigrants, refugees with financing for accreditation
That's when a friend of hers mentioned Windmill Microlending, a national charity that helps skilled immigrants and refugees achieve career success in Canada by offering affordable loans to pay for career accreditation, training and education.
Windmill provides low-interest loans of up to $15,000 to internationally trained professional newcomers. Since 2005, the charity — funded by the public and private sectors — has helped more than 12,000 immigrants requalify as health care workers, pharmacists, architects, engineers and other professionals needed in Canada. Along with the loan, Windmill also provides wrap-around supports like financial literacy training and mentorship for their clients.
“Windmill is focused on solving a very Canadian problem,” said Claudia Hepburn, CEO of Windmill Microlending, based in Toronto. “Our whole business plan as a country is based on the idea of bringing in the best and brightest from around the world, the most highly educated with best language skills… but then we assume that just after we've let them in the door, that they're good to go.”
This often isn’t the case.
“I needed support,” said Ogungbile.
Immigrants bring so much talent to this country... and stories like Seun’s highlight how critical programs like Windmill’s are in helping them thrive.”
On the advice of her friend, she applied for and was granted a loan from Windmill. The loan covered her final exam fees and gave her the financial breathing room to focus on her studies, day-to-day living expenses, and career path. Windmill also offered wrap-around supports facilitated through ScotiaRISE Funding. This includes financial literacy training, referrals to support clients’ economic and professional success, and pairing clients with mentors for custom coaching, career plan development and guidance. In addition, clients learn how to manage credit in Canada.
“Helping to improve the newcomer experience is a key area of focus for Scotiabank, as we recognize the essential role immigrants have to play in Canada’s future prosperity,” said Meigan Terry, SVP and Chief Sustainability, Social Impact and Communications Officer at Scotiabank.
“We are proud of our longstanding partnership with Windmill Microlending to help support newcomers with the career planning, interview skills, networking and allyship necessary to re-establish their professional careers in Canada.”
ScotiaRISE-Windmill partnership aims to support 2,300 newcomers
The partnership with Windmill was first established in 2021 through ScotiaRISE, the Bank’s social impact initiative to promote economic resilience among disadvantaged groups. The aim of the original partnership was to help accelerate the number of newcomer women served by Windmill’s lending and mentoring programs. With over 2,100 immigrants supported in the years, in 2024, ScotiaRISE renewed its investment of $2.5 million for another three years to continue providing wrap-around support assistance for Windmill’s newcomer clients.
“Immigrants bring so much talent to this country,” said Hepburn. “And stories like Seun’s highlight how critical programs like Windmill’s are in helping them thrive.”
A 2019 study by World Education Services found that only 39% of skilled immigrants in Canada surveyed had jobs with duties similar in type and complexity to their pre-immigration jobs. Barriers to employment were employers not accepting qualifications and experience, international education not being recognized and lack of licensure in Canada.
Windmill Microlending’s data shows that on average, its clients’ income grows three times, and unemployment rate drops by 75% upon their loan repayment. As a result of their clients’ re-accreditation and the important wrap-around support services provided, Windmill clients have a 96% historical loan repayment rate.
For Ogungbile, the journey has been one of perseverance and gratitude. She still remembers the day in October 2018 when she finally got her accreditation, a few days before her birthday.
“It was an incredible feeling. I am licensed, I achieved my goal and dreams,” she said.
Ogungbile is now a Licensed Pharmacist. After starting out as a pharmacy assistant at Shoppers Drug Mart, she is now owner of her own Shoppers Drug Mart store in Canmore, Alta.
“Windmill believed in my potential when I needed it most, now I'm proud to contribute and give back.”
