Blessing Ojembe

• Doctor of Philosophy (Social Gerontology) – McMaster University, 2022
• Master of Social Work - York University, 2023
• Graduate Certificate (Teaching and Learning Foundations) - McMaster University, 2021
• Master of Science (Gerontology) - University of Southampton, 2017
• Bachelor of Science (Social Work) - University of Nigeria, 2010

Dr. Blessing Ojembe is a Commonwealth scholar and a gerontological social worker. Her current research agenda which uses a community-based model specifically focuses on exploring the aging experience of Canadian-born and immigrant Black older adults on a broader context and understanding how it constructs ideas about their lives and social context. Her research uses a qualitative research design, data collection and analysis to conceptualize Black older adults’ experience of aging. 

Blessing has ten years of experience in individual, group and community-based practice with older adults in Africa and Canada. As a registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, Blessing has direct practice experience in the field of aging and working with older adults and continues to work with organizations in promoting quality care provision for older adults and their families. 

Areas of interest:

• Loneliness, Social Isolation, Social exclusion and social participation
• Social Relational Health 
• Racialized and Black older adults
• Qualitative research method
• Black experience and Representational Intersectionality
• Social justice and empowerment
• Met and Unmet Needs of older Black Canadians
• Older immigrants
• Black health and well-being  
• Gerontechnology
• Transnational aging
• Structural social work
• Critical Social Work
• Anti-racism and anti-black racism
• Intersectionality
• (Im)Mobility

Dr. Ojembe teaches in the undergraduate and graduate programs. Example courses include: SWRK 7600 – Critical Perspective and Social Work, SWRK 7014 – Qualitative Research in Social Work, SWRK 4282 – Social Work with older adults

Dr. Ojembe is open to taking new students in Fall 2025. If you are interested in working with Dr. Ojembe, please contact her early in your planning to discuss your goals and research interests.

Blessing is a co-founder and sits as the Vice Scientific Director, Grants and Scholarship of the Emerging Researchers and Professionals on Aging – African Network (ERPAAN) and continues to conduct aging research in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa. 

Affiliations:

• Emerging Researchers & Professionals in Ageing-African Network (Vice-Scientific Director and Board Member)
• Research Affiliate, Centre on Aging, University of Manitoba
• Affiliate Member, Connected Minds, York University 
• Canadian Association of Gerontology
• Ontario Association of Social Workers

Egbumike C.J., Ojembe B.U., Ezulike C.D., Oluwagbemiga O., Nwachukwu E., and Kalu M.E. (2021). Older Adults with Mobility Limitations: Narratives of Unmet Social Needs following Discharge from Inpatient Rehabilitation Units in Northern Nigeria. Submitted for publication at the Accepted for publication at Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy, 2024 

Akinrolie O, Iwuagwu AO, Kalu ME, Rayner D, Oyinlola O, … Ojembe, B.U., et al., (2024). “Longitudinal Studies of Aging in Sub-Saharan Africa: Review, limitations, and recommendations in preparation of projected aging population”. Innovation on Aging, 8(4), 1-12 https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igae002 

Ojembe, B., Kapiriri, L., Griffin, M., & Schormans, A. (2023). “You’re Not Understood, and You’re Isolated”: A Narrative Account of Loneliness by Black Older Adults in Ontario, Canada. Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue Canadienne Du Vieillissement, 43(2), 203-216. doi:10.1017/S0714980823000594

Ojembe, B. U., Kapiriri, L., Griffin, M., & Fudge Schormans Ann, (2023). Narrative analysis of exclusion from social participation and loneliness among Black Older adults in Ontario, Canada. Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work, https://doi.org/10.1080/15313204.2023.2211784

Ojembe, B.U., Kalu, M.E., Ezulike, C.D., Iwuagwu, A.O., Ekoh, C.P., Oyinlola, O., Osifeso, T., Makanjuola, J., Kapiriri, L. (2022). Understanding Social and Emotional Loneliness among Black Older Adults: A Scoping Review. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 41(12), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648221118357   

Kalu, M. E., Okeke, C., Nwachukwu, E, Okoh, A., Akinrolie, O., Ezulike, C., Abandom, H., Onyeso, O., Egbumike, J., Olatunji., F., Ugwuodo, E., Ojembe, B. U., … (2022). Methodology and reporting quality of 544 studies related to ageing: a continued discussion in settling priorities for ageing research in Africa. Journal of Global Health Economics and Policy, 2022010, https://doi.org/10.52872/001c.36188 

Ojembe, B. U., Kalu, M. E., Ezulike, C. D., John, M. O., Oyinlola, O., Osifeso, T. A., ... & Kapiriri, L. (2021). Exploration of Loneliness Among Black Older Adults. Social Science Protocols, 4, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.7565/ssp.v4.5748 

Kalu, M. E., Ojembe, B. U., Akinrolie, O., Okoh, A. C., Adandom, I. I., Nwankwo, H. C., ... & Obi, P. C. (2021). Setting priorities for ageing research in Africa: A systematic mapping review of 512 studies from sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Global Health, 11:15002. https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.11.15002 

Ojembe, B.U. & Kalu, M.E. (2019). ‘Television, Radio and Telephone: Tools for reducing loneliness among older adults in Nigeria. Journal of Gerontechnology, 18 (1), pp. 36-46. https://doi.org/10.4017/gt.2019.18.1.004.00   

Ojembe, B.U. & Kalu, M.E. (2018). Describing reasons for loneliness among older people in Nigeria. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 61(6), 640-658.  https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2018.1487495 

Grenier, A., Griffin, M., Andrews, G., Wilton, R., Burke, E., Ojembe, B., Feldman, B., Papaioannou, A. (2019). Meanings and Feelings of (Im)mobility in Later Life: Case Study Insights from a ‘New Mobilities’ Perspective. Journal of Aging Studies, 51:100819. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S089040651930324X 

Nwankwo H, Akinrolie O, Adandom I, Obi CP, Ojembe B.U. & Kalu ME (2019). The clinical experience of Nigerian physiotherapists one managing environmental and socio-economic determinants of mobility for older adults. Journal of Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 1-13 https://doi.org/10.1080/09593985.2019.1700579

Book chapters
Grenier, Amanda and Ojembe, Blessing (2020). Culture, Mental, and Older People. In R. Moodley and E. Lee. The Routledge International Handbook of Race, Culture and Mental Health. Routledge: New York.