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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

Kovsie TV Launched
2015-05-06

Victor Ngubeni, Grace Thoabala, Nangamso Dlatu, Aisha Poswa, Lesego Maakamedi, Nothando Hlope, Aldene vd Merwe and Lawrence Siyoko

“We have to change our university before we can change our country.”

 

There is a revolution at hand, and students are requesting new and exciting platforms on which they can voice themselves. Kovsie TV aims to do just that for Kovsie students. 

 

As a student initiative, the steam behind it is SRC Student Development and Environmental Affairs, Victor Ngubeni. He says that it is only right that it be by the students themselves. The launch saw many from the campus community gathered out of curiosity and excitement for the new venture. The evening started out as quite a classy frenzy, which had attendees clearly prepared for the level of broadcasting that the launch would showcase.

 

The initial idea is to increase the number of platforms where students can receive information. The Student Media portfolio, which oversees the functioning of student media platforms, aims to make Kovsie TV as autonomous as possible. As an introductory initiative, it will aid in the sharing and telling of students’ stories.

 

It is important to mention the preparation process that was endured by the many hopefuls who auditioned, hoping to make it as one of the Kovsie TV presenters. For more than three weeks, the panel of judges sieved through the contestants until they had just six rough diamonds. Then, for the first time, the audience met the faces that they would become familiar with from this point.

 

As Ngubeni stressed during his speech, Kovsie TV would not serve as propaganda machine for the SRC, as many might have asked about the relationship that could be expected between the two. The architects of Kovsie TV hope that, as a student initiative, it will inspire a new era in student activism.

 

When asked about the concept behind this new platform, Ngubeni informed us that, “the concept is to have a twenty-minute campus TV show highlighting what goes on around campus so that students know, and so that we can get them participating in campus life activities.”

 

This is a student initiative whose future will depend solely on the students themselves.

 

Presenters:

Nangamso Dlathu – Studio presenter

Grace Thoabala – Studio presenter

Lesego Maakamedi – Social events

Nothando Hlophe – Current affairs

Aldine van der Merwe – Culture events and Vox-Pop

Mbulelo Siyoko – Culture and Vox-Pop

Aisha Phoswa ? Sports

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