Ekpeno Ukut, a University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) alumnus, has established a $1,000 equity award to support Black students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, and a dedication to community development. Ukut, who earned his Master's degree in International Studies in 2024, designed the scholarship for full-time or part-time undergraduate and graduate students who identify as Black and actively contribute to building inclusive and equitable communities both on and off campus.
A Legacy of Quiet Generosity
Ukut's philanthropic journey began with a personal experience of kindness. As a young student in Nigeria, struggling financially, he needed 25,000 naira but had only 10,000. Desperate, he approached a professor who, without hesitation, gave him 40,000 naira. This act of unadorned generosity left a lasting impression, teaching him that the true power of giving lies in its silence rather than spectacle.
Now based in Canada, Ukut leads global initiatives through The Andino Foundation for Community Development (TAFCOD), which he founded in 2021. The foundation avoids performative philanthropy, instead focusing on funding clean water projects in underserved Nigerian communities, supporting families facing structural poverty and health challenges, and investing in youth programs that treat young people as assets to be nurtured.
Expanding Impact Through the Arts and Education
Since 2024, TAFCOD has awarded cash prizes at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, honoring top graduates in Theatre and Performing Arts through the Andino Excellence Award. This choice reflects a bold statement: the arts matter. As Ukut explains, "The arts are not a luxury. They are how a society remembers itself."
In 2026, he expanded his vision with the Ekpeno Ukut Equity Award, a scholarship for Black students in Canada who demonstrate academic achievement, leadership, and community commitment. Designed as a recurring fixture, the award quietly reshapes lives year after year.
A Rare Approach to Philanthropy
What sets Ukut apart in the crowded landscape of philanthropy is his refusal to chase recognition. He is not interested in the story, only in the outcome. In a world where giving is often a performance, his approach is extraordinarily rare and impactful.
