My Alumni Story: Salihat Badamasuiy – From Nigeria, to NTU and back as a public health practitioner
Salihat shares her story of arriving from Nigeria in 2017 to study for a Master's degree in Public Health, following in the footsteps of her uncle, who completed his PhD at NTU.
By Mitch North | Published on 9 April 2024
Categories: Alumni; School of Social Sciences;
I have always been drawn to anything health-related because of my mum who is a nurse. My undergraduate studies were on the Natural and Environmental Sciences, specifically focusing on environment and health. I was exposed to the many challenges within our health sector and was motivated and convinced that health is my passion.
My decision to study at NTU came about because the approach of study for MA Public Health. I was intrigued and curious to explore the topics involved in a Master's of Art rather than a Master's of Science.
As an international student, my experience was beautiful. I settled quickly as there were lots of international students which made me feel I was not far away from home. I absolutely loved NTU Global Lounge. It was a place to hang out between classes and meet lots of lovely new people. There were different activities all the time, which were often enlightening. My favourite was when the Maasai Cricket Warriors visited all the way from Kenya.
After graduating from NTU, I returned to Nigeria with so much optimism, hoping to get a good job and make a difference in the public health sector. I knew I'd been equipped with all the right tools to succeed from my degree. Unfortunately, it was really hard getting my first job. I applied to so many positions and spoke with professionals in the field about possible opportunities. At one stage I even reached out to World Health Organization in Nigeria but sadly there was no job vacancy.
To find a solution, I knew I had to think outside the box and create an opportunity for myself and others with like-minds so we could flourish and make a difference. It was not an easy journey and took me lots of research, networking, and soul searching, but then I came up with an idea to start a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) on Mental Health and Wellness Initiative. Shortly after the NGO incorporation, I got a call from the World Health Organisation with an offer to intern with them. I accepted this offer and went to Geneva for a few months.
The highlight of my career has been my experience at the World Health Organisation HQ in Switzerland. I worked with the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives of Federal Republic of Nigeria for 4 years. The smiles on the faces of people the NGO helped a lot.
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