By Our Reporter
Nigerian-born athlete, Oluwabukola Pereira, has been shot dead in the United States during a robbery incident in Ohio, just days before she was due to graduate with her second master’s degree.
Pereira, popularly known as Bukola or Bukky, was fatally shot on May 8 near Wayne Street in Lockland, Cincinnati, Ohio, while reportedly trying to stop the theft of about $1,500 from the auto business where she worked.
According to reports from Cincinnati, the 30-year-old athlete was scheduled to graduate on May 16 from Xavier University, where she was pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree. She had also planned to continue her studies later this year with another master’s programme in business analytics.
Her death has sparked emotional tributes across the United States and Nigeria, with friends, mentors and university officials describing her as hardworking, humble and deeply devoted to her Christian faith.
Pereira’s inspiring journey began in Lagos, Nigeria, where she raced barefoot through the streets as a teenager. In 2010, during a community foot race organised in Lagos by former Coca-Cola West Africa CEO, James Michael Lafferty, she impressed organisers by outrunning competitors in some of the city’s toughest neighbourhoods.
Moved by her talent and determination, Lafferty sponsored her move to the United States, helping her prepare for academic opportunities abroad. Arriving in America with just $10 and a scholarship, Pereira went on to build an outstanding academic and athletic career.
She earned a bachelor’s degree from Southwest Baptist University and later obtained a master’s degree in communication from University of Texas at El Paso.
Alongside her studies and work, Pereira continued excelling in athletics. She won the Flying Pig 5K race in 2024 and finished fourth in this year’s edition shortly before her death.
Friends and associates said she hoped to use her success to lift her parents and siblings out of poverty in Nigeria. She was also reportedly processing her green card application in the United States.
Lafferty described her death as “a tragedy of epic proportions,” saying Pereira represented the true picture of the American dream.
“She never failed. It was not an option for her,” he said.
Known for her strong Christian faith, Pereira frequently shared gospel music online and launched a Christian podcast during the COVID-19 pandemic.