Grace Tolulope Ojo is a Nigerian alumna (Class 2024) of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree in Governance and Administration of Leisure and Sport (GOALS), coordinated by the UFR3S (Health and Sport Sciences) of the University of Lille, in partnership with institutions in Poland, Portugal, Lithuania, and Luxembourg.

She is the Founder and Director of Bethel Fusion Zone (BFZ) in Ibadan, a sport-and-art social enterprise dedicated to wellness, inclusion, and community engagement across all age groups, with a particular focus on older adults. She leads programme development, partnerships, and initiatives such as ActivEld (Active Elder), an initiative designed to promote active ageing and encourage social interaction among seniors.

Driven by a strong commitment to leveraging sport for education, empowerment, wellness, equality, and sustainable development, she finds her greatest fulfilment in witnessing tangible impact—people connecting, staying active, and growing through sport and creativity.

Choosing the international adventure

Grace holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Kinetics from the University of Ibadan, and practises art herself. After gaining experience in sports administration and management, she chose to pursue the Erasmus Mundus GOALS programme to deepen her expertise in sport management.

Her academic journey took her through the University of Lille (France), Nicolaus Copernicus University (Poland), and the University of Lisbon (Portugal), with her thesis supervised at Lille. She selected France as a study destination due to its reputation as a sport and tourism hub.

While she initially looked forward to discovering French pastries and enjoying a new cultural experience, the first semester proved demanding. Over time, she settled in and fully embraced both the academic and cultural dimensions of her stay. She benefited from the Erasmus Mundus scholarship, which provided financial support, guidance, and international exposure. The Maison Internationale also played a key role in assisting her with residence permit procedures.

The academic experience

Grace’s degree significantly strengthened her professional trajectory, equipping her with essential competencies in intercultural management, strategic management, and personal branding. It broadened her understanding of sport governance, management, and community development while enhancing her leadership, intercultural awareness, and research capabilities.

These skills now underpin her work at Bethel Fusion Zone, where she applies not only her academic knowledge but also a global perspective and the confidence to design inclusive, transformative sport initiatives that advance social change.

Student life and integration

Her integration into life in Lille was greatly facilitated by the Lille Buddy System, through which she was paired with a local student who helped her navigate her new environment. She formed close friendships and enjoyed regular social activities—except during the winter months, when the cold encouraged her to stay indoors.

Among her fondest memories are playing football on the faculty field with classmates, attending the final welcome party, and participating in welcome events, an art outing, and a theatre tour.

A career springboard

Her academic training prepared her to lead the sport social enterprise she now manages. She gained practical exposure through volunteering at Paris 2024, witnessing international sport event planning firsthand, and building a strong professional network. She was also selected as a Young Sport Maker during the 2023 Global Sport Week in Paris, among other enriching experiences.

Grace remains connected with several classmates and strongly recommends the GOALS experience to international students seeking cultural diversity, academic growth, and global networking opportunities.

She is currently focused on fundraising to complete the first sport-and-art facility in her community in Ibadan, a project advancing grassroots development and contributing to selected sustainable development goals. She is also considering further studies, guided by the belief that learning is a lifelong journey. She remains open to mentoring international students and representing the ULIAN network whenever needed.

Looking back and giving back

Her advice to future international students is simple and practical: stay open-minded, respect cultural differences, learn some French to feel more connected, and maintain close contact with the Maison Internationale, whose support greatly simplifies administrative procedures. Above all, she encourages students to embrace the experience fully, create lasting memories, and enjoy plenty of croissants and baguettes!