Meagre budgets hamper education improvements

In the second of a series of interviews, University World News spoke to Oluwasegun (Segun) Afolaranmi from Lagos in Nigeria, who received a Clarendon scholarship for his masters studies at the University of Oxford. In March 2021, he was named a Gates-Cambridge Scholar-Elect. He will begin working for a PhD at Cambridge in cancer immunology in October 2021.

UWN: Do you have a message for young people in your country about education?

Afolaranmi: My message to young people in Nigeria and Africa is to continue to pursue their dreams and aspirations and to aim for the stars.

UWN: What information do you think young people need to make smart career choices?

Afolaranmi: Specific information might vary with different fields, but what I have found very useful is seeking out information early. Doing so allows you to plan and take the necessary foundational steps that will make you better prepared for the career moves ahead.

UWN: What is the biggest challenge you faced during your educational journey?

Afolaranmi: Financing school was quite challenging early on, but I have been privileged to receive generous funding from different sources since then that made my transitions and studying much smoother. My advice to young folks like me is that, whatever the challenge is, it’s always worth speaking to people who have gone ahead and are able to point you in good directions.

UWN: What was your biggest triumph at school and university?

Afolaranmi: I’d say probably being able to get involved with other things I enjoy doing besides mainstream academics. I was involved in student leadership, teaching, and a few other administrative roles. For this I had to be dynamic, plan well and prioritise appropriately.

UWN: Who was the most influential person in your educational life?

Afolaranmi: I genuinely have a very long list and can’t get myself to name one person. My mother strongly inspires and encourages me, and God has particularly blessed me with teachers, from elementary to medical school, who continue to stay with me, guide and encourage me. I think they have had the strongest influence on my education.

UWN: What would you like to see happen in the higher education sector in your country to build a culture of excellence?

Afolaranmi: I’d like to see an end to incessant strikes in the education sector.

UWN: If you were the minister of higher education in your country what are the three things you would change?

Afolaranmi: I think funding, funding, funding. It’s nearly impossible to have far-reaching improvements in the sector with the current meagre budgetary allocations. Efforts are also needed to refine the quality of what is offered in schools across the board to reflect current realities and position students for future challenges. Another key endeavour would be to invest in teacher or faculty satisfaction.

UWN: What should universities do to help graduates to become more employable?

Afolaranmi: Universities should create avenues to educate the mind beyond mere academic knowledge and provide opportunities for students to network with people in their fields of interest early on.

UWN: What would you say to a student who wants to give up because of the challenges he or she faces?

Afolaranmi: I genuinely had very low moments but speaking to my guardians and close friends in those moments was always very helpful. I also like to pray, think about the big picture, and draw strength from the things that motivate me. It’s also good to take pragmatic steps to overcome such challenges, for example, being keen to apply for scholarships for students facing financial difficulties.

UWN: What is your motto or mantra in life (and learning)?

Afolaranmi: Well, I don’t think I have any particular motto, but I’m increasingly learning to live with gratitude and hope.

Segun Afolaranmi’s graduate research at both Oxford and Cambridge will find better ways to use the immune system to fight cancer, a challenging disease that disproportionately impacts Africans. Ultimately, he hopes to contribute to leading efforts aimed at expanding access to transformative cancer therapies in Africa and alleviate the unacceptable disparities currently observed.