News
July 10, 2024Nigerian Immigrants Find Hope and Their Future at Capital Region BOCES
You can say without question that Albany residents Austin and Oluwafunmilade Alims are constantly looking to better their situation.
In the last eight years, the married couple has emigrated from Nigeria, lived in New York City, moved to Albany, started careers as certified nursing assistants, and as of June 27, graduated from the Capital Region BOCES Adult Practical Nursing program.
“I am a competitive person and I have never liked being at the bottom of a ladder,” Austin Alim said during a recent interview.
Austin and Oluwafunmilade were among 128 graduates of the Adult Practical Nursing program offered at Capital Region BOCES. The program prepares students to become licensed practical nurses (LPNs). The program offers full- and part-time students 1,100 hours of classroom and clinical studies and prepares them to take the National Council Licensure Examination and apply to become a New York state LPN.The Alims chose the part-time option, attending classes for 18 months while working overnight shifts in a local nursing facility.
“We chose BOCES because it offered a flexible schedule,” said Oluwafunmilade, who prior to working as a CNA worked in daycare centers.
The Alims said they are extremely pleased with the education they received at Capital Region BOCES.
“The teachers were always there for us as far as they came down to our level in order to communicate with us,” Oluwafunmilade said.
Austin, a former computer engineer, agreed.
“The 18 months have been great. The teachers have been good. The school environment is awesome,” he said.
Asked how they ended up in Albany after moving from Nigeria in 2016, the Alims said they first lived in New York City near family but didn’t care for it.
“We wanted peace, something not as fast paced,” Oluwafunmilade said.
As to their futures, the couple plans to continue their education and become registered nurses (RNs).
“We are planning to start as quickly as possible with testing sites,” Austin said.
