Lucy Quist is the Bold New Normal

[sidebar_widget sidebar_id="sidebar-1" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] [spb_text_block pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"]Lucy Quist is an international business leader and technology professional committed to advocating for greater participation of young people in STEM for development.She currently serves as the President of the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Ghana, and is the co-founder of the Executive Women Network in Ghana. Lucy also became the first Ghanaian woman to lead a multinational telecommunications company as CEO at Airtel Ghana (now merged with Tigo as AirtelTigo).

"I grew up in both the UK and Ghana which helped me develop an early appreciation for diversity. I was quite a playful child - smart but I really enjoyed active play. My active play was fuelled by my curiosity. I love to explore and understand the world around me. At home, I was exposed to basic engineering tasks through helping my dad. When I moved to Ghana I found primary school challenging for the first few months. I guess I was not used to the teaching methods. But I soon settled in and by the start of the next academic year, I was second best in my class. I have never looked back."

 

"I went on to Wesley Girls’ High School because a senior I looked up to went there and so I was convinced that it must be a good school. I knew very little about the school otherwise. I am really glad that I made it there. It was an immensely empowering experience for me as a young woman. I was presented with examples of great women who had walked the corridors I was walking and had blazed so many trails for me to follow. The empowerment also meant that the most challenging academic endeavours were encouraged and aligned with my vision of my future. After Wesley Girls’ I attended the Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (Presec) for sixth form - the sixth form was mixed. Presec at the time had a science college with the best science equipment in the country. I also knew it would attract the best minds in science from both genders and was a great training ground for the future."

Lucy was initially trained as an Electrical and Electronic Engineer.

• You graduated from the University of East London with a first-class honours degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. What/who inspired you to pursue this?

“I have always wanted to be an engineer. My first choice was Electrical and Electronic Engineering as I had been exposed to this by my father. However, along the way I had explored the possibility of studying Chemical Engineering. What swayed me back to Electrical and Electronic Engineering was the fact that the automotive industry - within which I was working at the time - did not really need chemical engineers. I was determined to graduate first in class and, so I worked extremely long hours to make sure I achieved my goal.”

• What was your first impression about Electrical and Electronic Engineering as a young woman?

“When I started practicing engineering I was not confident about my designs. I think that being young made the self-consciousness of being a woman even more acute. But I enjoyed the mental challenge and the collaboration with other engineers.”

• You began your career as an Electrical and Electronic Engineer at Ford Motor Company in the UK. What was this experience like for you?

“I started my career in a factory where less than 10% of the workers were women. Later when I moved to work fully as an engineer, the percentage was even lower. Directly there were about 3 other women at my level and a woman in senior management. It was a very positive experience because all the way back then the company had a stated goal of attracting and keeping more women in engineering. It was a very deliberate effort that took into account any particular needs women have. A great example was their extended maternity leave policy where women were paid fully for a year of leave.”

• You became the first Ghanaian woman to lead a multinational telecom company, Airtel Ghana, as CEO. What do you wish people knew about this feat?

“I would not so much call it a feat, but more a natural progression. The values and skills required were developed overtime. Regardless of gender, we have to be ready for the role we want to assume in future. My goal was to become the CEO of a larger corporation - the fact that I am a woman was not the primary focus. And that is an important point I would like to people to take away. We are each individuals and our gender happens to be a characteristic of us. We have no control over our gender, but we have the opportunity to fashion our skills, values and leadership style to achieve our goals.”

• You started two initiatives; “Evolve with STEM” and “The Bold New Normal”. What inspired these?

“Evolve with STEM was born out of the realisation that as a country, Ghana was not having conversations about STEM. As a matter of fact, the percentage of undergraduates studying STEM fields is declining each year. I wanted to ignite the conversation and use my achievements to inspire a generation into STEM. When I started my advocacy I would even have journalists ask me ‘what is STEM’? That is how far back the conversation was. Inspiring generations meant personally going to schools, speaking and engaging on all available platforms to promote STEM. I believe representation matters. That young girl has a much easier task if she visibly has an image of a woman who has gone all the way in STEM. The Bold New Normal has been with me most of my life but my TEDxEuston talk gave life to it outside my mind. I have seen the suffering of disadvantaged people around the world. They are part of our normal. But what if we questioned that normal? What if we asked ourselves what a great future would look like for them? And what if that vision meant that we change the way we talk about ourselves? If we talk positively of our future our mindsets will change. Changing mindsets will change what we do. We will start to act in line with the vision we want to create - a bold new normal. The two go hand in hand. We need new outcomes, but the continent is so far behind that we need STEM to accelerate the journey. For that to happen we must channel the potential of young people to ensure that they realise their potential.”

• If you could change one thing about your career, what would it be, and why?

“Honestly, I will change nothing. Earlier in my career I learnt to be decisive about what roles I took. It always had to be progressive on my terms. It does not mean every move was an upward progression. But every move was focused on achieving my long-term goals. I am fortunate that I am able to do this with the support, love and care of a wonderful family.”[/spb_text_block]

Ivy Barley's 'Developers in Vogue' is creating a relevant community of female developers

[sidebar_widget sidebar_id="sidebar-1" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] [spb_text_block pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"]Ivy Barley is a determined young Ghanaian woman passionate about empowering African women to pursue careers in technology. She is the co-founder of Developers in Vogue, an organisation that trains females in the latest technologies to prepare them for the future of work. Developers in Vogue aims to create a relevant community of highly skilled female developers who are passionate about using technology to revolutionise Africa and beyond.Ivy made the front pages of some German newspapers with her initiative in 2017 after winning the prestigious ‘E skills for Girls competition’ award in Berlin, Germany. As the overall winner in the competition, she was awarded €15,000, a mentorship programme from Google, and support from Impact Hub Accra.Ivy is also a Global Shaper of the World Economic Forum.

While growing up, I always had a strong aptitude for Mathematics and Technology, and that has pretty much shaped my career path. I recently completed my MPhil. in Mathematical Statistics. My first degree was however in Actuarial Science and secondary education in Business. All my life, up till now, people call me the "Unassuming Champion". More often than not, my abilities are underestimated, but I would always find myself over-delivering. I believe in underpromising and over-delivering. When I’m not busy on social media, you may find me taking selfies.

 

• What inspired Developers in Vogue?

"About a year ago, I was working at an all-girls pre-university where my role included assisting the girls with Mathematics, Statistics and Physics. I also taught the girls Programming. Before working in this school, I’d been hearing people say that women don’t like coding. However, I realised the contrary! The girls were very enthusiastic about coding; they also had so many great ideas! My stay in the school was cut short but all the while after that, what never left me were the memories of the girls! It dawned on me to start a sustainable initiative that will create the ideal environment for females to code, connect and collaborate. That’s how Developers in Vogue was born."

• What are some of the important activities you run at Developers In Vogue?

"At Developers in Vogue, we train females in the latest technologies and connect them to real-time projects and jobs to enable them apply their skills and earn an income. What we seek to solve is simple; the problem of under-representation of African women in technology. At our coding bootcamps, females are taught how to code using a practical and project-oriented curriculum. Aside assigning dedicated mentors to them, ladies also build their portfolios by getting experience in the job market. However, what is most important to us is the community we’re building; a sisterhood of amazing women who support each other."

• What have been some of the challenges you’ve had to face as a young woman in tech?

"I think my main challenge has been the underestimation factor; but that really isn’t a problem for me. Generally, there is still a lot more work to be done to make the tech ecosystem in Africa world-class. If we really want to build disruptive global tech businesses, stakeholders need to invest in infrastructure primarily. Cost of internet access in most African countries is still on the high side."

• Why is the concept and model of social entrepreneurship significant to how you run your enterprise?

"I believe social entrepreneurship is going to revolutionise how businesses will be done in the world. This is extremely important here in Africa, as we have so many challenges. Entrepreneurs are now finding solutions to our numerous problems and then crafting good business models around their solutions. In my organisation, though we receive donor funding, we have also worked on our business model so that we can generate revenue on our own to scale our work. Sustainability is very important to us."

• You are a member of the Global Shapers community, a multi stakeholder initiative of the World Economic Forum. What does this mean to you and your country?

"If there is any decision I don’t regret making few months ago, it is joining the Global Shapers community. Being part of this community literally opens doors for you! Aside being able to significantly contribute to pressing issues locally, continentally and globally, I have had the opportunity to showcase my work to stakeholders. Also being in a community of like-minded game changers, who are also shaping their communities with the work they do, is truly satisfying."

• What one advice would you give to young women interested in pursuing a career in technology?

"To be on top of your game, you need to work hard. You must make it a priority to keep improving upon your skills. Though it may get difficult at some points, think about the big picture. Also make time to network with people in the industry to learn best practices that can make you world-class. If coding is truly your passion, then you definitely need a lot of diligence and determination. In case you need some support with this, you can get in touch with me." [/spb_text_block]

Ghana's Nancy Abu-Bonsrah is Johns Hopkins' first black female neurosurgeon resident

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Nancy Abu-Bonsrah is making waves and history as the first black female neurosurgeon resident at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

On Match Day, a medical tradition in the US where graduating (fourth year) medical students get to find out which schools they have been matched to to pursue further medical residency training, Ghanaian Nancy Abu-Bonsrah was matched with Johns Hopkins School of Hospital to specialize in neurological surgery.

In the 30 years that Johns Hopkins School of Medicine's neurosurgical department has accepted residents, there has never been a black woman in the ranks. The prestigious program accepts just two to five residents, and is ranked second in the country. Among its most notable alumni is Dr. Ben Carson, who is now the United States secretary of Housing and Urban Development. (Source: CNN)

Congratulations to Nancy Abu-Bonsrah, she matched at @HopkinsMedicine! #Match2017 pic.twitter.com/Pjv7hC8hSr

— Hopkins Med News (@HopkinsMedNews) March 17, 2017

Nancy was born in Ghana, but in 2005 she moved to Maryland, USA with her family when her father was offered a job with the international branch of a non-profit organisation. She attended Hammond High School in Columbia, MD (class of 2008) and moved on to Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, MD, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in Biochemistry and Chemistry. In August 2012, Nancy began medical training at John Hopkins. 

My decision to pursue medicine stemmed from a desire to be of service to others, particularly knowing that there were a significant number of people in my home country who could not receive essential medical services. My family and teachers encouraged and nurtured this goal and it is exciting to see it come to fruition.

• Why Neurosurgery?

"My desire to pursue neurosurgery was actually borne out of shadowing experiences in Ghana. During the winter break in my junior year at Mount St. Mary’s University, I had an opportunity to spend some time in one of the teaching hospitals in Ghana; the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. It was there that I experienced the uniqueness of neurosurgery as well as the general lack of access to care. Not only was I impressed by the surgical skill and fascinated by anatomy, I was also stunned by how overwhelmed the surgeons were. Ultimately, I felt that this field would help me marry a love for the field with a desire to serve. This is why I cannot wait to go back and serve, not only in Ghana, but in other low resource settings."

• You made history as the first black woman to join the neurosurgery program at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where the medical discipline of neurological surgery was founded. How did you do it?

"I made it thus far through hard work and receiving a lot of mentorship and support from those around me. However, in a lot of ways, I believe I was at the right place, at the right time. I am very fortunate and I hope to use this platform to ensure that other students are likewise fortunate."

• What keeps you motivated?

"My family, my hope to be able to provide effective neurosurgical care for those in need, and the opportunity to mentor others, particularly minorities who are interested in the field."

• Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?

"I hope to join the dedicated group of neurosurgeons who seek to provide neurosurgical care to those most at need but with few resources."

• Any final words for the young girls looking up to you right now?

"Know the reason behind your goals and aspirations, work hard for it and always reach out to others for help when you need it. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it."[/spb_text_block]

Abigail Osei-Asamoah on transportation in Africa

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Rapid population growth and regional dynamics are key factors in the intensifying pressure on transportation systems in Africa.

Ghanaian Transportation Engineer and Planner, Abigail Osei-Asamoah, discusses transportation challenges and solutions for Africa.

Abigail was born and raised in Kumasi, Ghana. She attended Wesley Girls High School, where she majored in General Sciences and continued on to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology where she pursued a BS in Civil Engineering. Upon completion, she worked for a year as a National Service Personnel at the Department of Urban Roads in Kumasi, after which she went on to pursue a MS in Transportation Engineering at the University of Florida.

Abigail now has a PhD in Transportation and Urban Engineering from the University of Connecticut and is currently a Transportation Engineering Planner/Modeler with CDM Smith Inc.

• Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do.

“As a transportation planner, my work involves using different tools to predict and identify future transportation needs and patterns of growth in transportation system. It involves examining scenarios and evaluating the effects of actions that can improve the transportation system and simply prepare for future transportation needs.

Aside from working, I enjoy outdoor activities like walking, and recently, running. I like to push my limits and try to do every day better than I did the previous one. Growing up, I was a bit of tomboy, and even now I still have a bit of that in me. I enjoy having a great conversation and making light out of situations, which some folks may find a bit annoying.”

• Why Transportation Engineering?

“To quote one of my professors in college; “Transportation is the backbone on which cities and towns are built”. I believe a city gets its character from its transportation system. I have always been interested in the way things move and how stuff gets from one place to another. Transportation engineering allows me combine my passion for science and my desire to make an impact to improve the safety and conditions of service for users of the transportation system. In addition, my dad who is a Civil Engineer mentored me a lot growing up. I remember reading books in his study, wondering what all the drawings and numbers in the books meant, and him trying to explain in simple terms, how those numbers characterized features of the transportation system like the strength of a bridge.”

• What are some of the challenges you’ve had to face as a Transportation Engineer? How did/do you deal with them?

“Transportation engineering like most engineering fields is male dominated, and one of the most common challenges female engineers face in such fields is the need to prove they are equally as competent as their male counterparts. While I do not agree that a woman can do everything a man can do, it still surprises me that women engineers are sometimes undermined in my profession. My favorite example, comes from my days as a National Service Personal at the Department of Urban Roads. One day a lady contractor walked into the office, and wanted her finished culvert contract to be inspected and approved by an engineer. I remember as we got ready to travel to her work site, she asked my then supervisor why I was coming along with him to the site. My supervisor informed her that she had just insulted the engineer who was going to approve the work she had done. I honestly found it amusing.

While I believe it is less common with the younger generation, there are a few engineers from the older generation who still have a bit of difficulty working with women engineers.

This challenge, I mostly deal with by making sure I do an excellent job. The best way to tackle this is to be dedicated, excellent, and committed to what you do, and let your work speak for itself.”

• Traffic congestion is still a big issue in some African countries. What do you believe causes congestion, and how can it be solved?

“The most common cause of traffic congestion is the demand for transportation exceeding its supply. In road transportation, congestion often arises when the capacity of the road is not enough to accommodate the traffic. In addition, a simple problem like an inefficient traffic signal system can cause a significant amount of congestion at an intersection. When there are deficiencies in the design of the road, it can also cause congestion.

I suspect most of the congestion problems in African countries are as a result of the demand for transportation facilities exceeding their supply. However, the more road capacity is added, the more it will it be used. I have heard of new interchanges being built in Accra, Ghana and instead of mitigating congestion, it further exacerbated the problem. This is because, as soon as new lane is added or a road is built, drivers will be attracted to it, change routes and fill it up.

One way to solve congestion problems in African countries is to invest in alternatives to single user transportation. Investing in, and improving mass transit systems will make it more attractive to users. Think of the difference one bus transporting 30 people at a time will make, versus a single driver in a single vehicle.   

Giving road users an incentive to park their vehicles and take mass transit will help improve the traffic congestion. Consistent maintenance of traffic signals and updating them and retiming them will also help reduce congestion problems at intersections.

Another way to improve congestion is better planning of land use and transportation. The land use determines the transportation system. If policies were put in place to better anticipate future needs in the transportation system in relation to changes in the land use, it will go a long way to manage future congestion issues that may arise in the system.”

• Do you agree that part of understanding a country’s transportation system and its development needs is appreciating the history and culture of its people? Please share your thoughts.

“History and culture to an extent, do play a role in the development of the transportation system. The history and culture of the people in a country determine their values and their social norms.

Efficient transport systems do not only provide accessibility but also improve and enhance social interaction. A culture, where social norms emphasize the need for communication and interaction will focus on a transportation system that facilitates interpersonal interaction and communication.

People in such a cultural background may appreciate more walking and transit systems, where a person interacts with other people compared to driving on high speed roads in individual vehicles during which the driver doesn’t really interact with anyone than at their origin and destination. Such a culture will appreciate a system that allows users to frequently stop safely and interact while using the system.

There have been cases in which elaborate transportation systems like rail or super-fast transit have been built in many developed countries but have been underutilized or have not been able to reach their potential because the culture didn’t support transit but supported more driving. Another example is developing exclusive bike paths in areas where biking is not a significant part of the culture.

An examination of the history of a country will also provide further insights about the past development of the transportation system. Looking at how the transportation system has survived or grown in the past will better throw more light on what is needed in the system.”

• What is the one thing you’d like to change about Ghana’s transportation system, and why?

“If there was one thing I could change about Ghana’s transportation system, I would change the system to protect more vulnerable road users like pedestrians by introducing measures that reduce travel speeds in city centers and urban areas, and improve the overall travel conditions in the system.

I would want to do this because I believe Ghana’s greatest resource is its people, and a lot of lives are lost on our roads because of unnecessary speeding. While there is so much that engineering can achieve by designing efficient roads for drivers, driver behavior can only be controlled through regular enforcement and the introduction of measures that can slow drivers down especially at city centers and urban areas where there are a lot of pedestrians.

In addition, an improvement in travel conditions will in the long run also make the roads safer because, drivers won’t feel the need to speed so much if so much travel time wasn’t lost in traffic congestion.”

• Do you think there is a need for more women in this field?

“There is definitely a need for more women in this field considering it is mostly male dominated. There is definitely satisfaction from seeing fellow women who are mums, wives or just single women who excel in their career and effectively perform their job duties.

It will also help erase the perception than women transportation engineers are somehow less competent or not as good as the men if we had more women working in the field.

It will also provide more opportunities for mentoring and provide opportunities for us to motivate each other to excel at what we do.

I get a lot of inspiration and motivation from my direct supervisor at my current firm, who is a woman and a Senior Transportation Planner. She provides direction to me on the job in areas that I need. She also provides opportunities for me to be involved in diverse projects and makes me aware of how she values my expertise and input in the projects that we work on. I am motivated by the fact that she values me as an employee of the firm and makes me feel welcome in our work environment.”

• What keeps you motivated?

“I am motivated by the desire to become a better version of myself through a continuous refinement process. At every stage of my life, I look for ways to improve and make an impact in the lives around me. I look for opportunities to learn, apply new things I learn, and improve my problem solving skills. To me every new day of life is an opportunity to do and learn something new.   I would also like to make an impact with my work and I get the greatest satisfaction from producing excellent products and tools for clients that I work for; to provide a better understanding of their future transportation needs. I am glad that I am part of their story.”

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Betty Enyonam Kumahor on building technology and businesses in Africa

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Africa’s technological advancement and innovation over the past years may not attract significant global attention for many reasons. However, when conversations arise regarding the continent’s effort to utilize technology to solve problems and promote socio-economic development, it certainly cannot be ignored.

Betty Enyonam Kumahor, one of Africa’s tech heroines, is helping to improve lives, foster economic growth, while creating opportunities for people, companies, and countries within the continent.

Enyo, as she likes to be called, is the Founder and Managing Partner of The Cobalt Partners and serves on the Board of Directors of a number of Civic Society Organisations and technology-led enterprises. She is a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader with an impressive background in the consulting and technology industries.

She previously worked as the Regional Managing Director of Pan-Africa for ThoughtWorks, a global IT consulting firm. Enyo joined the organization from Ernst & Young where she led the Ernst & Young’s Service Delivery Technology function for their Global Advisory practice deploying technology solutions across 140+ countries.

Enyo now invests in and mentors technology-driven companies committed to sustainable business in Africa.

• Tell us about yourself, and your educational background.

"I was not the best student. I enjoyed playing; had tons of varied interests; lack of focus; and little to no affinity to getting good grades. What I did like doing though was solving puzzles and working with systems, and for that reason I gravitated towards the sciences. In secondary school, I took 10 subjects instead of the normal 8. I didn't take 11 because I couldn't figure out how to add the 11th to class schedule (varied interests). At A-Level, I decided to have more fun so I picked the normal 3 subjects and I did Physics, Math and Chemistry. In University, I knew I wanted to do something in healthcare but not being either a doctor or a nurse. I really enjoyed computer programming. Towards the end of my undergraduate Chemistry and Math majors I found out about healthcare informatics and left to do a masters in that. Without much industry work in health informatics at the time, I took the IT part of the degree and started my career in that. Then I found out I could solve puzzles and build systems in IT ... I haven't left since!"

• You have an excellent track record when it comes to IT strategy and implementation. What inspired this?

"Probably, mostly, an exhaustion of seeing technology projects fail for reasons that often times had nothing to do with the technology itself and everything to do with the thought processes used in selecting and implementing the chosen technology. I still remember the first time I heard about the Standish Group study on why projects fail. It has been renamed the Chaos study which I find to be a completely apt name. In 2015, the Chaos study which is based on U.S. software implementations says that 71% of software projects are either overrun or an outright fail. I am confident the number across most of our continent is higher. When I first heard about the study it was almost 90%. That's not a lot of improvement in 20 years. And when I think about the lost opportunities in terms of business enablement and improving lives, I am incensed...negatively inspired if you will...to be a part of changing the effectiveness of technology enablement, especially where it can make a social impact."

• According to Jim Forster, one of the early engineers at Cisco, a maker of network gear, and now an angel investor, technology is opening up African markets that have long been closed or did not previously exist. What have we as Africans been doing right? And what could be done better?

"I would not say that those markets have been closed or did not exist...but perhaps they were closed or invisible to some investors like your quoter here. So the first thing that I think Africans have been doing well is investing in the continent themselves...or bringing in foreign investment. While this investment is still insufficient based on a scale of opportunity, it is encouraging to see intra-African trade and investment on the increase and more pan-African technology teams and organizations.

I also think that what we have done right is we have not tried to follow some other formula. For example, we did not keep implementing copper or even fiber terrestrial cables and instead went mobile. I believe that our success will come from us being able to innovate based on our unique circumstances, resources and needs, and we are doing that to some extent.

What I would like to see more of is the understanding that technology will succeed or fail based on how well we understand who is going to use it, how well we customize the technology for that particular persona or personas, and how well we manage the process of doing that. The context of the technology use is ultimately most important. The Standish Group study clearly demonstrates this and I speak about this at conferences often and yet I still see far too many projects that act as technology finding a problem to fix rather than shaping the technology based on the context in which it will be used. Only then do I think we will see fewer technology project cost overruns and failures, and instead more impactful implementations."

• Do our local governments limit technology implementation?

"If I had to give a simple Yes or No answer, I would Yes. The reality for the majority local governments in Africa is that they are still the largest spenders of technology, and where it is spent, directly impacts the experience and hence maturity of the local technology industries. There are few countries where I see a strong alignment of the technology industry, particularly software development, and the government and for a technology-driven world this is concerning. I can't say that I have the magic formula for exactly where every government should spend or remove limitations but I do know that the technology business leaders and owners operating in that country would have a very clear sense of what works and does not work. There are a couple of bright spots, but much more needs to be done to ensure we have technology roadmaps and policies favorable to effectively implementing them."

• What are the pros and cons of “copying” technology used elsewhere and adapting it to fit African circumstances?

"I see no cons provided technology is adapted to fit the circumstance it will be used. Reuse should be a key strategy on every project."

• You could have worked anywhere in the world with your experiences. Why Africa?

"I have worked elsewhere in the world, and continue to live and work part of the time elsewhere in the world. But, Africa, is home. I left as a teenager because I had the opportunity to study and then work outside of the continent, but I came back because I knew that it was not fair that I could not get similar or part of those experiences here and I want to be a part of changing that narrative. I'm not sure that I would say there were challenges so much as the continent is a different place to live and work and at times it can be a frustrating process with projects taking 4 or 5 times longer than they should. You could call that a challenge but I prefer to look at it as an opportunity to change what does not work. So, what helped me when I first started working on the continent was letting go of any and all expectations of how things SHOULD be, and now what helps me is knowing that every 'challenge' is rather an opportunity to make it better."

• What keeps you motivated?

"I have fun building technology and businesses. It's easy to stay motivated when you're doing what you love doing. When a project helps a client, it's a sense of accomplishment that I do not have a panacea or alternative for. And I am unapologetic about this now in my middle-aged life especially when you want to make every moment you are around count. And now that I have significant influence over my firm's strategy, I can and do ensure that this is the primary and sole obligation to every client - that we make their business or organization better. It may sound trite but in practice this can be difficult to implement. In our case though we have literally said 'No, thank you' to would-be-paying clients where we simply do not think we can bring value based on the project they scoped. But where we can do good work I know the team, and myself, will be motivated and have fun."

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Selina Naana Egyir on natural resource management in Africa

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Africa as a whole has vast natural resources, and if well managed, can be a major force in global affairs. But the question remains: Will Africa ever benefit more from its natural resources?

Today, we discuss this and more with Ghanaian Natural Resources researcher, Selina Naana Egyir.

It has always been Selina's belief that in a world that humans are eager to explore and exploit, ecologists of all sorts will be needed to sound the necessary caution and direct man to a more sustainable future.

Selina had her high school education at Yaa Asantewaa Girls’ Secondary School in Ghana where she studied General Science. She then attended the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to study  Natural Resource Management and majored in Fisheries and Watershed Management.

After serving as a Teaching Assistant at KNUST, Selina obtained a Swedish Institute Scholarship to pursue a master's degree programme in Sustainable Water Management (Ecological Engineering) at Kristianstad University in Sweden, where she passed with distinction.

Selina pursued a second master's degree in European Inland Water Quality Assessment at Mälardalen University, also in Sweden.

Selina is currently in her final stages of her PhD programme in Sustainable Urban Drainage at Heriot-Watt University and will be graduating in May, 2016.

"As part of my PhD programme, I have been running interactive workshops by engaging primary and secondary school students and communities with “community resilience, and the roles that individuals can play in protecting themselves and their neighbours from flooding in UK communities”. I am also a STEM ambassador for STEMNET UK where I help to engage and enthuse young people about STEM. Whenever I am in Ghana, I mentor JHS pupils and voluntary teaching in orphanages."

• What about Natural Resource Management interests you so much?

"Environmental issues, particularly with water resources, have always fascinated me since I was an undergraduate. I studied natural resources management because of my deep-seated interest in environmental issues. I have always believed that sustainable water management can improve tomorrow’s cities’ health.

Ghana has been abundantly blessed with water resources, but the problem has always been economic scarcity and not resource scarcity. This is what made me more interested in water resources management in Ghana.

Let's ask ourselves these questions; How do households in Ghana get good supply of cheap, clean and quality drinking water? How do we effectively manage our water resources in Ghana? Do we place value on it? How are women and children in Ghana affected by poor water quality? How do we reach out to rural areas to ensure that they have good supply of drinking water? How do we ensure that people whose livelihood depends directly on water resources are using it appropriately for future generations? What is the government's take on Ghana’s natural resources, and how are they ensuring its sustainability for future generations?

I have always wanted to contribute my knowledge and skills to water security for disadvantaged people in sub-Saharan Africa, to improve sustainable growth and poverty reduction especially among women and girls. Growing up in Ghana, I realized women in some rural areas of Ghana constitute the majority of sub-Saharan Africa's poorest people, and are highly dependent on local natural resources for their livelihood as a result of their responsibility to secure water, food and energy for cooking and heating up their homes."

• You have not one, but TWO masters degrees. What inspired this?

"To answer this I think I have to take you through my career journey. I think it will make it easier for people to understand. This is because whenever I talk about this, some people think it was a waste of time to do this as a woman. For me, it has been highly valuable and has shaped my career, which I hope will benefit Ghana and encourage more women to pursue their academic dreams and careers.

I began my research career in 2007 as a student at KNUST, working under the supervision of Professor Mrs. Esi Awuah and Mr. Kobbina Awuah on a UNICEF/EU funded project with students from Cornell University. The project was on testing the quality of the source of drinking water in some selected communities in the Northern Region of Ghana. I then volunteered, with some community engagement, on the sensitization of Guinea Worm infection which was predominant in the Northern Region of Ghana. At the time, Ghana was the second most Guinea Worm infested country, and I felt we could do better. Following this project, in the latter part of 2007, I was supervised by Dr. Benjamin Betey Campion of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on a research project on the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for watershed management using Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) in Aboabo, Kumasi due to the predominance of flooding in Aboabo around that time. This gave me in-depth knowledge on water management and sanitation in Ghana. In 2008, together with some friends, we started a voluntary sensitization program called Earth watch on the KNUST campus local station (Focus FM), where we helped sensitize students on sustainable living, the environment and the importance of Ghana’s natural resources.

I moved on to become a Teaching and Research Assistant at KNUST where I worked on a collaborative research with KNUST and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University sponsored by USAID /CRSP on “Characterization of pond effluents and biological and physiological assessment of receiving waters in Ghana” and “Aquaculture information sources for small scale fish farmers: the case of Ghana”. These were supervised by Professor Steve Amisah.

In the period between 2010 – 2012,  I engaged market women and fish farmers in Ghana on the economics involved in the selling and distribution of Tilapia and Catfish. After this experience in Ghana, I decided to pursue a master’s degree program to improve my knowledge in sustainable water management. I obtained a scholarship to enrol in a university in Sweden where I studied Ecological Engineering and specialized in Sustainable Water Management. It was a one year programme, and I realised although I was exposed to laboratory analysis to check water quality, I felt it was not good enough because Ghana had a lot of inland waters and some people’s livelihood depended on fisheries. So to contribute my knowledge to Ghana and help improve the health of our ecosystems, I decided to do a second masters’ degree on Inland Water Quality Assessment. During the time, I got the opportunity to work as a research assistant after a year at Mälardalen University, Sweden. I was part of a team that researched on the dormancy, germination and toxin production in Cyanobacteria and its impact on perennial blooms in lakes and reservoirs, and on Spanish Inland Water Quality Assessment focusing on Rivers and Lakes in Madrid in conjunction with the European Water Framework Directive (September 2010- January 2011) at the biology lab of Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.

Overall, it has been quite challenging, yet rewarding. Being a woman in this field, in a foreign country with different cultures, and coming from a developing country, has been tough. Some men I met were not so easy to associate with in an academic setting, and at times, did not value my input in the academic environment. It has also challenged my faith in God. Being an unmarried Ghanaian woman while pursuing my academic career, initially did not go down well with my family as they perceived the higher I advanced in my career, the more it would be difficult for me to have a husband. Thankfully, I overcome all these challenges with humility, love and overall with God."

• In Africa, we seem to be suffering from what we call the “resource curse” – a paradox that nations with an abundance of natural resources, specifically point-source non-renewable resources like minerals and fuels, tend to have less economic growth and worse development outcomes than nations with fewer natural resources. What’s your take on this? What are we doing wrong? And how can we beat this "curse”?

"To be honest, every time I have had the opportunity to discuss this issue with other Africans, they have always shared the opinion that we can never beat this curse, and even if we will, it will be a 100 years from now. However, throughout my academic pursuit, I have come to realize that we can, and it starts with individuals and not the government. I know most people believe a corrupt government leads to poor governance of our natural resources. Corruption does not start at the government level; it starts from childhood. Some individuals will eventually grow up and be in leadership positions. I strongly believe that children need to have some form of discipline at an earlier stage in order to break the cycle of corruption, and consequently resource mismanagement. That is the only way out."

• “Land grabbing” happens everywhere. But, it often takes place in Africa. Our governments welcome investors with the intention of benefiting from land sales. They offer our high-yielding land with easy access to water and infrastructure, and majority of these contracts rarely include conditions protecting the interests of our communities. What can we do to prevent this?

"Community engagement I will say is the useful and important way to go about this. This is because, most of the time, the government due to its own self-interest, does not have the necessary information and local knowledge to protect the interests of those communities. Engaging with the local community prior to the sales of these lands and having the locals on board during the planning and implementation is not only vital to share the responsibility in identifying issues, but it brings about a high level of community input on recommendations and advice for local and regional use of the resources. This can somehow contribute to problem solving, and could further achieve natural resource management goals, as well as to protect the interests of communities."

• If you had the opportunity to make a change in your home country, what would it be, and why?

"Restructuring the education system: I believe children do not have the right insight into career choices.

"More concern and respect for our environment: During this century, we should not have to die because of Cholera and flooding in Ghana. These are as a result of blocked drainage systems which are mostly filled with rubbish. It should not take a major flooding and death incidents before we desilt and clean our drainage systems."

• What is your message to women in this field?

"They should follow their dreams and not be discouraged. Be a woman of substance; have a positive influence; be a woman of meaning; use your voice; live up to your morals and values (always remain aware of them).  And last but not the least, do what excites and motivates you. Don’t settle because you have to, settle because you want to. And be humble.

Thank you for giving me this opportunity to share my story. I hope it has a positive impact on all unmarried women out there."

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