FOR THE LOVE OF HAMILTON
This regular feature highlights people from all walks of life who have embraced Hamilton as their new home.
LOHIFA POGOSON ACKER is a consultant, business owner, hair artist, and speaker dedicated to community empowerment. Born in Lagos, Nigeria and raised on three continents, she is known for her dynamic personality and deep love for all things Hamilton. As a passionate advocate for healthy, thriving and just communities, Pogoson Acker has received multiple awards, including the 2020 Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, the 2023 Order of Hamilton and the 2025 King Charles III Coronation Medal. Her interests include health and wellness, youth development, and small business support — she encourages others to live purposefully and with passion!
Why did your family immigrate to Canada?
From a young age, I knew my parents were adamant and passionate about raising global citizens, exposing my siblings and I to “difference” and ensuring that we were open to learning from a breadth of perspectives. Canada was and still is a good choice for these goals.
Can you tell us about your interesting career path?
I have done a dance between careers – very fitting as I love to dance! As a student at the University of British Columbia, I was very interested in the brain and neurology. I wanted to become a doctor but eight years of medical school became less and less appealing to me towards the end of my undergraduate degree. I chose to go the international development/public health route instead. My love for biomedicine had been replaced with a growing interest in alternate ways of learning and knowing about health and healing. I worked in health systems strengthening for many years and when it was time for a change, I veered into entrepreneurship. Hairstyling has always been a passion of mine. It brings me much peace and connectedness. Naturally, I moved in the direction of flexibility, joy and peace.
What brought you to Hamilton?
My parents, literally! After moving back to Canada from working overseas, it didn’t make sense to finally be back in the same country but on different coasts. I made the decision to move to Hamilton from Vancouver a few months after my parents did.
What convinced you to stay in Hamilton?
The energy in this city is like no other – close-knit, humble, fun, diverse. I have lived in many cities. Hamilton was a healthy mix of everything I wanted in a city I’d eventually settle in.
What neighbourhood do you live in, what made you choose it and what do you love about it?
Ward 8! I often share on social media that I speak in “wards” now that municipal elections are not so far off. For those who aren’t up to speed with their “wardnese,” and for a bit more specificity, the west Mountain. When I came to Hamilton in 2012, I was introduced to the Mountain after being disappointed, multiple times, in my search for a home in downtown Hamilton. I quickly fell in love. It was quiet, homey, walking distance to everything – groceries, church, restaurants, highway access, and all the works. I love the sense of community here and in Hamilton overall.
Tell us about your background and entrepreneurship in hairstyling.
My interest in hairstyling kicked off at a very young age and I have been styling for three decades altogether. I always knew I would venture into entrepreneurship at some point, but it was when I became a mom that I solidified that decision. I knew pursuing a business in hairstyling, particularly in my niche – textured hair, pattern styling, would give me opportunities to really connect with my community and build healthy, long-lasting and supportive relationships. And it has.
In 2020, at the start of the pandemic, when hairstyling was deemed a non-essential service less than five months after I started my business, I had to pivot. I shifted to community engagement (mostly online), small business support and business development, group/team building and facilitation, MCing, hosting and speaking. I did quite a bit. Most of what I did then and do now is rooted in my love for my art, health care, education, youth and community engagement, business and Hamilton!
What are your community service and volunteer activities?
I currently serve as a director on three boards: the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, the Hamilton Foundation for Student Success (HWDSB) and The Hamilton Club. I support many other organizations in different capacities: YWCA Hamilton, Mathstronauts, Goodwill Amity, Empowerment Squared, McMaster Black Students Success Centre, Nations Light House Church, Food4Kids Hamilton, the United Way Halton & Hamilton, the Afro Canadian Caribbean Association, St. Matthew’s House and a host of others. I love being in community and I feel very blessed to serve where and how I can.
On another note, my friend, Dr. Clare Warner and I started and lead an anti-racism reading club for women called Colourful Conversations. We are currently in our second year and very proud of the engagement and growth thus far.
This year, you launched Excel in Style. Can you tell us about that initiative and why it’s important to you?
As a textured hair stylist niched in pattern and natural hair styling, with the bulk of my clients being from Black and racialized communities, I noticed quite a number of individuals and families struggling with costs, access and knowledge pertaining to textured hair care. I saw and continue to see many folks, young and old, make the tough decision to forfeit hairstyling so they can afford other pressing needs – rent, food, transportation, etc. Excel In Style was created to fill that gap and support Black and racialized youth (and their families) with textured hair styling and hair care education, unlocking a pathway to wellness, connectedness and promoting cultural pride and confidence in Hamilton youths.
As a collective of 67 textured hair stylists and barbers representing 32 barbershops and salons here in Hamilton, we want our community to know that there is community-mindedness, love, talent and expertise right here in this city of Hamilton and we are committed to supporting textured hair youth (and their families) to look and feel their best. Our kick-off event, which took place on March 15 at Bernie Custis Secondary School, in collaboration with the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board, the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program, Clore Beauty, Shea Moisture, and supported by many other community organizations, saw us support over 250 Black and racialized youth with free back-to-school hairstyles and haircuts. Youths and their families also received textured hair education, free hair care products from Shea Moisture and Clore Beauty and enjoyed a day of community connectedness, celebration and fun!
We are excited to continue to build and strengthen the textured hair community here in Hamilton – raising the next generation of knowledgeable, confident, community-minded and cultured Hamiltonians.
You did hairstyling for Canada’s Drag Race when it filmed in Hamilton. What was that experience like?
It was fabulous! And very serendipitous! Sometime before I got the call from Stacey Mckenzie to style for the show, I had seen a picture of her on Instagram in a style that intrigued me. I purposed in my heart and mind that I’d style her someday. But before I could action any strategies to make this possible, she found me. Our first encounter was around 1 a.m. in her Airbnb, dishing out a style before her early morning call time, and after a very long day of styling for me. After that first style, the producer of the show called and invited me to stay on for the duration of the production. It was a juggling act managing my business, my client’s needs and the show, but I did.
I styled Stacey McKenzie, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, Traci Melchor and a few others. I was and I still am so proud of this show, that it took off in Hamilton and that we delivered the vibes to set it on a path to success. It has now aired five seasons and is confirmed for a sixth.
Who inspires you?
This list is long – my faith rooted in Christ, my family – from my grandparents (God rest their souls), to my parents, my husband, my siblings, my children, my bonus children, my friends and community. I have a solid circle of influence and I thrive in it.
I also draw a lot of inspiration from leaders like Thomas Sankara, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and most recently leaders showing much courage in the face of adversity – Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan (a Nigerian senator) and Cory Booker (a United States senator).
What motivates you?
Knowing that I am endowed with all I need to establish God’s purpose for my life. With this understanding, you can push through whatever life throws at you!
What has been the biggest change in Hamilton during your time here?
The Hamilton demographic has changed a lot. Hamilton is a lot more diverse than when I arrived 13 years ago. We have a growing population and I love it!
What Hamilton arts or cultural events do you most look forward to attending?
Gosh, there are so many! Here are a few that are staples for me and I try not to miss. This list is absolutely not all encompassing: The Nigerian Canadian Association of Hamilton’s Summer Picnic; Hamilton Fashion Week; Supercrawl; Sew Hungry; Art Crawl; Pier 8 Pop Ups; Winterfest; Lucky Lion Night Market; It’s Your Festival; Hamilton Day; Open Streets; Tiger-Cat and Forge FC Games; Farm tours or just hanging out at Summit Station Dairy; Watching movies at The Westdale; Brott Music Festival; Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra; performances at Theatre Aquarius. I can go on and on…
What is your favourite way to spend a lazy day in the city?
A true lazy day is spent in my home, in my bed. A pseudo lazy day, I sometimes spend at a local restaurant or café, at the Hamilton Public Library, visiting my talented designer friends for outfits – Leslie Smith at the Cotton Factory, Slique Stitches in Mount Hope, going for a walk at Pier 8, sitting at Gore Park and observing downtown Hamilton, quiet moments at the Art Gallery of Hamilton …
What is your favourite meal in a local restaurant?
Surely, I can’t provide a singular answer here: Breakfast of Champions at Symposium Stoney Creek; jollof rice, chicken, suya and salad at Afro Fusion Resto; ribeye steak at Victoria’s; pho at Em Oi; Vietnamese; pad kee mao at Pintoh; calamari and bone marrow at Rapscallion; chimichangas at El Grito Mexicano; moimoi, rice and ofada sauce at Temmy’s Kitchen; pumpkin loaf at Lukaya Café; every single cupcake at Bitten on Locke; sizzling beef in ginger and scallion sauce at Banana Leaf Asian Cuisine; rice, peas and oxtail at True to Roots.
What's Hamilton's best-kept secret that you've discovered?
The Eat & Argue Club, a gathering of community members from all walks of life at The Hamilton Club to exchange and challenge ideas and perspectives over delicious food.
“Long live King David and the Comrades!”
What does Hamilton need more of?
Moral clarity and leadership!
What does Hamilton need less of?
Blasé! I’d love to see every Hamiltonian truly play a role in seeing this city reach its maximum potential.
What's the one thing you brag about Hamilton to people from elsewhere?
One thing? Lol! I am such a proud Hamiltonian that there can never just be one thing. I give them everything – our waterfalls, trails, our tight-knit community, our history, our food scene, the plethora of super talented artists, designers, small business owners and entrepreneurs that exist in this city … As a matter of fact, most people who I meet that are not from Hamilton will tell you that I have advised them to make wiser life choices and move to Hamilton.
If you would like to be featured in For the Love of Hamilton, or know someone who should be,
please contact: meredith@hamiltoncitymagazine.ca.
