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11 February 2022 | Story Lunga Luthuli | Photo Supplied
Dr Yong Sebastian Nyam aims to contribute to solutions to alleviate food insecurity, poverty and inequality, community resilience, and disaster preparedness on the continent.
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.”

News Archive

UFS hikers to Cape Town reflect on their journey
2014-05-26

 

For the four volunteers from the university who are currently on their way to the Cape on foot, every hour of every day is a victory.

It is three weeks since two employees from the University of the Free State (UFS), Adéle van Aswegen and Ntokozo Nkabinde, together with two other Bloemfontein residents, Nico Piedt and Ronel Warner, left Bloemfontein on fóót for the Cape, in order to highlight the problem of food insecurity among students.

On Sunday 18 May they crossed the halfway mark at Beaufort West and will conclude their journey on Tuesday 3 June in Cape Town.

This is what the hikers have to say after three weeks on the road:

Adéle van Aswegen
It isn’t only a physical journey, but rather an emotional journey you undertake. You learn what it means to be truly thankful for basic things like clothes, a place to sleep and food.

Nico Piedt
I know what it feels like to survive on only a glass of water in your stomach – a cup of weak tea if you’re lucky – for the whole day. If I can help (through the hike) to give someone a better chance in life, then it is worthwhile.

Ronel Warner
You think and grow simultaneously. As you plan every stride ahead of you, you also plan your life ahead.

Ntokozo Nkabinde
You don’t walk for yourself. You undertake this journey, maybe because you want to help someone, but this journey is actually in honour of something bigger and you just have to endure.”

These boots are made for walking ... to Cape Town (Article of 02 May 2014)
“Aren’t auntie and them hungry yet?” Country folk worried about NSH hikers (15 May 2014)

Daily updates:
(You can also follow us on @UFSweb for daily tweets)

Day 33: 2 June 2014
13:40
20 km
Sunset Beach, Cape Town

Day 32: 1 June 2014
16:05
26 km
Mervyn and Sanet Wessels, Belville

Day 31: 31 May 2014
16:31
39.6 km
Rhonell and Gavin Julain, Paarl

Day 30: 30 May 2014
14:00
16 km
Monte Rosa, Rawsonville

Day 29: 29 May 2014
13:16
31 km
The Habit, Worcester

Day 28: 28 May 2014
11:00
22.4 km
Monte Roza, De doorns

Day 27: 27 May 2014
17:00
21.1 km
Karoo Hotel

Day 26: 26 May 2014
18:27
43.3 km
Tows river

Day 25: 25 May 2014
12:18
Lord Milner Hotel, Matjiesfontein

Day 24: 24 May 2014
16:30
42 km
Laingsburg Country Lodge

Day 23: 23 May 2014
17:32
41.8 km
Vergenoeg

Day 22: 22 May 2014
16:42
43 km
Assendelft Lodge and Bush Camp, Prins Albert

Day 21: 21 May 2014
15:09
42 km
Leeu Gamka Hotel

Day 20: 20 May 2014
13:39
20 km
Alida, Springfontein

Day 19: 19 May 2014
12:31
27.6 km
Teri Moja Game Lodge

Day 18: 18 May 2014
First rest day
Nagenoeg Guesthouse, Beaufort West

Day 17: 17 May 2014
19:30
62.3 km
Nagenoeg Guesthouse, Beaufort West

Day 16: 16 May 2014
13:00
14 km
Taaibochfontein

Day 15: 15 May 2014
16:03
32 km
Travalia, Three Sisters

Day 14: 14 May 2014
18:33
43 km
Joalani Guest Farm

Day 13: 13 May 2014
17:30
33 km
Die Rondawels

Day 12: 12 May 2014
16:49
40 km
Aandrus B&B in Richmond

Day 11: 11 May 2014
39 km
Wortelfontein (Magdel and Christiaan)

Day 10: 10 May 2014
15:44
34 km
Hanover Lodge

Day 9: 09 May 2014
40.8 km
Camping between Colesberg and Hanover

Day 8: 08 May 2014
15:25
33.7 km
Colesberg, The Lighthouse Guesthouse

Day 7: 07 May 2014
15:08
23 km
Orange River Lodge

Day 6: 06 May 2014
15:57
51.06 km
Gariep Forever Resort

Day 5: 05 May 2014
12:18
28 km
Rondefontein

Day 4: 04 May 2014
15:27
35 km
Trompsburg: Fox Den

Day 3: 03 May 2014
17:30
46.74 km
Edenburg Country Lodge (Hotel)

Day 2: 02 May 2014
11:44 am
15.3 km
Tom's Place

Day 1: 01 May 2014
32 km
Leeuwberg

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