I am Emelin Leyuga Nwana and I live in Douala, the economic capital, of Cameroon in Africa – a large majority of private sector economic activities are concentrated here in addition to the largest sea port in central Africa.
I am single but coming from a big family with two brothers, three sisters, twenty one nieces and nephews and four grand nieces and nephews means I have always family around. When I am not at work I deal with family related issues and take care of my extended family. I also try to create time for personal development like studying and research.
I work at the Douala International airport for a company that handles every sector of aviation airport operations from customer service to safety and security of passenger, goods and aircrafts on behalf of contracted airlines. My role is supervisory and focuses on document verification. The unpredictability of my working schedule pushed me towards searching for solutions to improve it and ultimately for deciding to do an MBA course online. I could only study when my schedule permitted me and UNICAF offered me the opportunity to do so. Another reason as to why I took the decision to do my Master’s degree through UNICAF was the generous scholarships that it offers.
Equally important is the ‘earn as you learn’ approach – keeping your job and salary. I have people who depend on me for their financial needs; therefore I cannot stop working entirely in order to study.
The advantage of studying online and graduating on campus with exactly the same degree was the icing on the cake. UNICAF was the perfect answer to my prayers regarding my studies. It gave me everything in one package and I cannot stop saying “Thank You UNICAF”.
My main motivation for doing the MBA was because I needed a springboard to enable me to initiate a career change. The knowledge I have acquired through studying I have been able to put into action in my current role and improve the way I work. However, I have gained a certain level of understanding and maturity to ease the forward movement from here on. I have big dreams for my career. I am already applying for jobs related to what I have studied. My efforts are already paying as I have been called for an interview and I am waiting for feedback. In the meantime I am still looking at other work opportunities both locally and internationally.
Doing an MBA opens our minds to a wide range of possibilities. Working for me and continuing my studies are both included in my short and long-term future plans. I am also looking forward to acquiring some professional experience with the knowledge I have. UNICAF is at the top of my list as soon as I will be ready to continue with my studies. I would like to say to other people considering higher education is that it’s increasingly becoming a necessity especially when you have plans to grow intellectually and professionally. Knowledge is power and it gives us more confidence. The challenge is to start and with a little determination and focus anyone can make it through. I started recommending UNICAF to my friends and colleagues while I was still studying and will continue to do so. Many were sceptical on the seriousness of my venture but they were convinced once I graduated. I am hoping they will give it a serious consideration now.
Association brings assimilation and we cannot be different from the people we associate with. To me, being a part of UNICAF Graduate Society is all about associating with like-minded people and walking with people who are going my direction. Making the right connections is very important when we are considering and looking at growth possibilities. UNICAF’s Graduate Society I believe is made up of people who are forward thinking. Mingling with like-minded professionals will always be productive in one way or another. It is all about continuously adding value to our careers. An adult making the decision to go back to school has a vision, a purpose or a plan. I believe that we all undertook this journey for tangible reasons. My wish to my fellow UNICAF graduates is that they achieve what they set out for and I pray all of our dreams and plans to come to fruition.
