With a PhD in hand and a recent appointment as an African fellow to the
World Bank, the sky is the limit for
Dr Yong Sebastian Nyam, an alumnus of the University of the Free State.
Dr Nyam, who also completed an MSc in Agricultural Economics through the University of the Free State and was named the best master’s student in the
Department of Agricultural Economics in 2018, joined the World Bank’s Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience and Land Global Practice on 3 January 2022 for a six-month fellowship programme organised and managed by the
Office of the Chief Economist, Africa Region (AFRCE).
The programme equips African PhD candidates and recent graduates (less than three years) from different universities around the world with hands-on experience at the World Bank Group’s headquarters in Washington DC or its country offices.
Dr Nyam says: “Fellows will work on research, economic policy, technical assistance, and lending operations that contribute to the World Bank Group’s goal of eliminating poverty and increasing shared prosperity.”
During his time with the World Bank, Dr Nyam will be working on urban resilience projects, especially projects focused on urban food systems and disaster risk reduction.
Working with experts and policy makers across the continent, he says: “I am hoping to gain some hands-on industry experience while contributing to developing solutions to the continent’s most pressing problems, such as food insecurity, poverty and inequality, community resilience, and disaster preparedness.”
Through the fellowship programme, Dr Nyam hopes “to use this opportunity to become a useful tool for sustainable development in Africa and to advance mentorship programmes geared towards preparing and informing PhD candidates on different career options in the industry and how to transition from academia to the industry”.
Reaping benefits of hard work and determination
Looking back on his academic journey, Dr Nyam is grateful for his ‘determination and self-discipline’ traits that set him apart from his peers, despite the fact that he experienced ‘financial challenges’ at home.
“I was not the most intelligent student, but the most hardworking, and I have never let financial difficulties stop me.”
On obtaining his PhD degree, Dr Nyam says: “Like many people, I thought a PhD was very difficult and almost impossible to do. I think the impression people give about a PhD degree is wrong and it scares a lot of people away from doing it. I quickly realised after one year of my master’s research that it was possible to do a PhD.”
About his time with the UFS, Dr Nyam says: “Most of the things I know in my professional life I learned from the institution; the memories are all good. I am extremely grateful for all the lessons and maybe one day I will write a book about my journey at the UFS, because there are so many stories about my experiences as Resident Assistant at President Steyn Residence for five years and as Research Assistant for four years.”