Temilade Adesina’s journey toward entrepreneurship was shaped by adversity. After a spinal cord injury changed the course of her life, the Brock University graduate student in Applied Disability Studies turned her experience into motivation to help others facing similar challenges. She founded Eriworld Linen, a business offering eco-friendly bed linens and services tailored to people with disabilities or health concerns. The company provides both comfort and dignity through high-quality products and support services like bed-laying and laundry assistance.
Adesina is one of seven Brock University students who recently received the Laura Sabia Entrepreneurial Award. In total, $70,000 was distributed among the recipients to help launch or expand their businesses. The awards were made possible by a $500,000 gift from Brock Chancellor Hilary Pearson and her husband Michael Sabia. The award is named in memory of Michael Sabia’s mother, Laura Sabia, a prominent Canadian advocate for women in leadership.
“I can say with all boldness, I am a professional entrepreneur,” said Nigerian-born Adesina. “When you have the vision, there’s nothing you can’t achieve.”
Pearson attended a reception with the winners, offering support and insights from her career across the public, private and non-profit sectors. She praised the students for their innovation and commitment to social change.
“These inspiring young women aren’t just building businesses — they’re shaping culture, challenging expectations, and inspiring a new generation of changemakers,” Pearson said. “I have no doubt they will drive meaningful change within our University community and beyond.”
Among the award recipients was Tiffany Muhindi, a fourth-year Political Science student and founder of Dawa & Co. Her company produces an immune-boosting health drink inspired by the traditional Kenyan Dawa remedy. Muhindi said receiving the award in honor of Laura Sabia was both humbling and empowering.
“Entrepreneurship, to me, is about continuous learning, innovation and contribution,” Muhindi said. “This award has only strengthened my resolve to keep growing, thinking boldly, and delivering meaningful impact.”
Other recipients of the 2025 Laura Sabia Entrepreneurial Award include students developing products and services across healthcare, beauty, apparel, dance, and wellness. Their ventures address social challenges, support underrepresented communities, and promote personal expression.
The Laura Sabia Entrepreneurial Award is open to students enrolled in Brock’s undergraduate or graduate programs who are developing a business, creating prototypes, or running a registered company. To qualify, students must be active participants in Brock LINC’s entrepreneurship programs, such as Entrepreneurship Co-op, Navigate, Blueprint, or LINCubator.
The award is part of a broader initiative supporting women in business, as well as students in science, technology, engineering, and math through Brock’s Yousef Haj-Ahmad Department of Engineering. Laura Sabia, for whom the award is named, was a leading advocate for gender equality in Canada. She held several leadership roles, including president of the Canadian Federation of University Women and member of St. Catharines City Council, and was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1974 for her contributions to improving the status of women.
