Despite Stanford’s declining Black enrollment, Nigerian students and students of Nigerian descent stay connected with their heritage through the Stanford Nigerian Students Association (NAIJA), which allows them to celebrate their culture and address shared concerns.
The University has not fostered a sense of community and belonging among Nigerian students according to NAIJA member Christopher C. Emodi ’25, who citied long-running difficulties hosting events at the Center for African Studies (CAS) since 2023.
“I am definitely saddened by the trends in Black enrollment following the Supreme Court decision. The Black community was already small, and it is getting even smaller,” Emodi said.
The Daily has reached out to the University for comment.
NAIJA financial officer Nifemi Bankole ’27 said there was an increased number of empty dorms in Ujamaa, a theme dorm for Black students.
“It made me so scared and concerned,” Bankole said, adding that Black students bring diverse experiences and perspectives that enriches the Stanford community. “Having fewer Black students on campus is not a good thing at all.”
The decline in Black enrollment potentially means that in the future, there will be a decrease in Nigerian and students of Nigerian-descent involved in NAIJA.
“African-American and African people are capable of thriving if given the opportunity to be in these spaces. A significant aspect of our cultures encourages us to work hard and overcome any adversity,” Okezue Bell ’27 said.
Sharing cultural experiences at a University like Stanford is enriching, and NAIJA provides students with opportunities to find community and celebrate their Nigerian identity, according to Bankole and NAIJA co-president Obianauju A. Mlemchukwu ’27.
Bankole said he connected with diverse Nigerian ethnic groups for the first time while at Stanford.
Mlemchukwu said she is dedicated to helping Nigerian and students of Nigerian descent stay connected with their heritage, celebrating their diverse cultures and educating the broader campus community about Nigerian culture.
Growing up, Mlemchukwu was surrounded by people who looked like her in her hometown, so she was able to fully embrace her Nigerian-American identity before coming to college. At Stanford, she wanted to help Black students feel a sense of community and belonging on campus.
“I hold on to my authenticity, let it shine in everything I do and take the opportunity to educate people when they don’t know. I have realized that even with limited spaces to express myself, I can still bring my full self into everything,” Mlemchukwu said.
A previous version of this article incorrectly referred to Mlemchukwu as Anita O. Mlemchukwu. It is Obianauju A. Mlemchukwu. The Daily regrets this error.