Upward Bound

Gbenga ElEhinafe

"My friends back in Nigeria expect me to do big things."

The Nigerian-born Elehinafe celebrates solving a tough homework problem

Copyright © Photo by Matt Black

Gbenga Elehinafe also believes education is a reciprocal process at UCLA, where he both learns from and teaches others because of his diverse life experience and that of his peers. Through his work with the Nigerian Student Association, Elehinafe stays connected to his own culture and helps "those who were born in the United States to have a feel of what it is to be Nigerian."

Arriving from Africa with his family in 2001, Elehinafe graduated from Ulysses S. Grant High School in Van Nuys and then attended Los Angeles Valley College before transferring to UCLA in fall 2005. The fourth-year senior and mechanical engineering major says the campus feels very international and welcoming to him, although he is very aware of being "the only black person" in most of his classes.

His packed school days begin with a walk across Gayley Avenue, enlivened this morning with something the ever-inquisitive student sees in the sky above him.

Copyright © Photo by Matt Black

"Sometimes people judge you once they see you and hear you talk, based on your accent, without even getting to know you," he admits. But this just makes him work harder to bridge the cultural divide. "I socialize with students of various backgrounds because I believe that is part of the education process. I learn new things [from them] every day, which will definitely come in handy in this global economy."

In addition to his work with the Nigerian Student Association, Elehinafe is the second vice president of the UCLA chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers and is actively involved in the Center for Excellence in Engineering and Diversity and several other groups.

"Because I am in the U.S., most of my friends back in Nigeria expect me to do big things because they understand the opportunity that comes with going to a school like UCLA. The future is bright, and there are a lot of things I want to do," he says, adding simply, "I hope to be an employer, not an employee."

Published Apr 1, 2007 8:00 AM