Nigerian scholar at the University of Iowa (UI), United States of America, Osamamen Oba Eduviere, who has been researching the African immigrant experience in Iowa as a part of the university’s ‘Homebuilding in the Heartland’ study, has received accolades and recognition for sharing remarkable stories of African women who have migrated to the predominantly white state and against all odds settled in well as a minority and underrepresented member of the community.

Homebuilding in the Heartland, started by Prof. Brady G’sell, is a community-based participatory model of engagement that aims to research the needs of African women who have immigrated to Iowa in their efforts to create wellbeing for themselves and their families. The process involves interviewing women who originate from Africa and now live in the state of Iowa, aiming to learn about their experiences and ask for their input about how Iowa can become a more welcoming state for them and the communities they are a part of.

One of the program’s biggest findings yet has been that African immigrants in Iowa are underrepresented. According to G’sell, Homebuilding in the Heartland aims to provide a way for African immigrants to see their own stories and others like them in a place like Iowa.

Eduviere realized that for most immigrants, Iowa wasn’t their first destination in America, but it was often the last, becoming where they settled down. Most of the people researched are refugees and people that have cultural background in regions in Africa.

Throughout her two years working on Homebuilding in the Heartland, one aspect has continuously surprised Eduviere is the resilience of the human spirit to rise above any challenge. “What has shocked me is the human beings’ resilience,” she said. “Many people have been able to come to the strange land of the U.S. with no family or friends and still be positive about life.”

Her effort on the research has earned Eduviere a recommendation letter from President of the University of Iowa, Barbara J. Wilson, who wrote: “I would like to extend my thanks for the positive academic impact of research on the African immigrant experience in Iowa as a part of the University of Iowa’s ‘Homebuilding in the Heartland’ study. I was delighted to see this work highlighted in a recent article by The Daily Iowan.

“As a world-renowned public institution of higher learning, the University of Iowa has a responsibility to share our scholarly expertise and showcase the research activities that are taking place across our campus. Thank you for your time and commitment to this wonderful institution.”

As a further recognition, Eduviere also got her image displayed in big banners across the university community and the city with the words: “Dare to create, innovate, explore, imagine and discover.

Eduviere, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Iowa, had moved to the U.S. in 2021, from the University of Benin, Edo State after ditching a doctorate program at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State.

She notes that even in a predominantly white state, many of these immigrants have been able to create community among themselves and thrive.

However, making observations is just the start. Eduviere said the satisfying thing about research is to see how it moves from research into practice and see how it translates into the everyday lives of the people.

She is excited to see how policymakers can make use of this research and work to aid underrepresented people. This research won’t just be beneficial to Iowa, but all governments can see how to channel the findings into helping and providing for these immigrants.

G’sell and Eduviere are not the only people involved in Homebuilding in the Heartland. Amy Weismann, the assistant director of the UI’s Center for Human Rights, has also worked with the two women on this project.

“It’s been such a tremendous pleasure to work with both Brady and Osamamen,” Weismann said. “We’re each bringing our respective lenses and training and questions to bear, and I think that’s made it a much more engaging and robust undertaking as a result.”