Page 22 - Future Leaders Magazine

PROFILES
SUAD Suad chose science, but the writing bug has

KAMARDEEN, 22 never strayed too far from her consciousness.
The University of Birmingham student runs
School University of Birmingham the popular blog, Nigerians of England, which
Subject Chemical Engineering with seeks to change negative perceptions of her
Industrial Study (BEng) beloved home and community.
Year Third (of four) Currently on a one-year placement at
Grade average First class BMW’s quality control division, Suad led
the company’s revised Black History Month
As a schoolgirl, Suad Kamardeen was a celebrations by recommending the inclusion
passionate creative writer, but was also an of more African and Caribbean influences.
exceptional mathematician and budding
scientist. However, in the Nigerian educational Where do you see yourself in 10 years?:
system, she had to pick one or the other. I would like to be an author and a mentor.

UDONNA OBI, 21
School University College London
Subject Biomedical Engineering (MEng)
Year Third (of four)
Grade average 2:1

Having completed an internship at Goldman
Sachs, Udonna has sampled the top end of
what life after education might look like.
CHIMA NGEREM, 23 But that hasn’t stopped him for gaining EMEM UMOH, 19
valuable experience while he completes his
School Birmingham City University studies. In October 2014, he was appointed School Imperial College London
Subject Video Game Enterprise and the university’s Sustainable Development Course Mechanical Engineering (MEng)
Production (LMsc) Project Leader where he managed a team of Year First
Year N/A six multidiscipline engineers to develop a new Grade average First class
Grade average First class (Equivalent) form of renewable energy for Iceland.
First degree Law (LLB) at London School Outside of university, he led groups Emem is the treasurer of her university halls,
of Economics, grade 2:1 out to the now defunct refugee camps in responsible for managing a £30,000 budget
Calais, where he was responsible for waste used to organise events for the 400 members
Chima’s ultimate goal is to land a job with one management and looking after displaced living in halls. During the 2016/17 academic
of the top technology companies where he young people. year alone she led her team to organise
can fully utilise his skill and know-how of the several successful events including Christmas
gaming market. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? and Easter parties, and theatre trips to see
Having already completed internships at Making an impact in Africa. Cirque du Soleil and Les Miserable.
Afrigames in Nigeria and a stint at Nintendo’s She was also a co-ordinator for the ACS’s
European HQ, he is well on his way to being biggest event, the annual cultural showcase
considered for top positions in the field. Afrogala, making sure everyone knew where
Earlier this year, he was selected to help they were supposed to be. This was a learning
tutor and mentor undergraduate students curve as she had to exercise authority over
ahead of exams and assessments. her peers, which taught her how to handle
conflict while remaining professional.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I would like to create an all interactive Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
entertainment studio. Running the next Wikipedia, based on
something I created myself.

MISTURA YAKUBU, 21 educational system can be, which led her
to join Let Us Learn, a youth-led initiative
School University of Manchester advocating for change in student finance for
Subject Chemical Engineering (MEng) immigrants.
Year Second Using herself as a case study, she spoke
Grade average 2:1 with reporters, lawyers and over 200 pupils
and teachers about her own personal story of
Mistura is passionate about ensuring BME being denied student finance and the affect it
students have all the resources and support had on her. Mistura, a former maths tutor, is
they need to pursue higher education and also a student ambassador at her university.
secure employment in leading companies
around the world. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I
As the first in her family to attend want to set up something positive that young
university, Nigerian-born Mistura knows people can benefit from, whether through a
first-hand how challenging navigating the scholarship or mentorship.

20 FUTURE LEADERS | 2017-18