Introduction
Dr. NseAbasi Etim obtained her bachelor’s degree in Animal Physiology from the University of Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. She later earned MSc and Ph.D. degrees in Animal Physiology from the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, in Abia State, Nigeria.
From 1996 to 2004, She worked as a French language teacher in several different nursery/primary schools and secondary schools in Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria. After she graduated from University in 2006, during her national service year (2006–2007), She began teaching Agricultural Science in Christian Commercial Secondary School in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Now Dr. NseAbasi Etim can be found working as a Lecturer in the Department of Animal Science, at Akwa Ibom State University.
High School
In high school (Cornelia Connelly College, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria), she was a member of both the French language and Music clubs. She also “contributed to the several awards earned by [her] school during State and National French Language Competitions.” This earned her an all-expense-paid trip to Cote D’Ivoire during her 10th-grade year. She also told us that Biology was one of the most important subjects she learned in high school. “Biology was one of the subjects I liked in high school and the knowledge I gained from it was of huge benefit to me during my undergraduate years as an Animal Science student.” One tip that she has for current high school students is, “Keep your studies as your first priority but create time for socials and volunteering because these will help you develop important skills that will help in personal life and career. Also, set your goals and organize yourself. Manage your time properly and create time for rest.”
College
In college, Dr. NseAbasi Etim had to work several jobs to pay for her education, so she had very little time for extracurricular activities; but in her spare time, she was able to be involved in drama and music clubs outside of her school. She was, “the only student that made Second Class Honors (Upper Division) in my Department during my first degree at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.” She was also “the best graduating student with a GPA of 5.00 on a scale of 5.00 during my MSc and Ph.D. studies in Animal Physiology [at the] Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.” As for internships, she did her’s in the 4th year of her undergraduate studies at the University of Uyo Farms. She also told us that there were various classes she took that helps her the most in her current career. “The most important classes I attended in the University that now help me in my career are Animal Physiology, Animal Nutrition, Animal Health, and Farm Management. Because I am now teaching and co-coordinating those courses to undergraduate and graduate students. Moreover, the knowledge I gained from those classes has really helped me in caring for my animals.” Out of all of her classes her favorites were Animal Physiology and Animal Health, “My favorite classes in school were Animal Physiology and Animal Health because I got to understand the processes and how animal bodies function and how to manage the health of animals.” The toughest she took were chemistry and statistics, but she “worked hard to understand the courses better [and] ended up with good grades.” Something she told us she did to help her in these challenging classes was that she “paid more attention to the tough courses. I also sought explanations from my classmates who understood the courses better.” As for side projects, she told us that she also, “engages in several self-funded charity works to touch the lives of less privileged people in the society.”
Work-Life
In the past, Dr. NseAbasi Etim was an Assistant Lecturer in 2012. She currently works as Lecturer 1 and will be promoted to the position of Senior Lecturer next year! When asked for an overview of what she does in a day she said that her “typical day as an academic begins with my morning prayers, checking my calendar for activities for the day and ensuring that every member of my family is attended to. Thereafter, I check my email for any message that needs urgent attention and prepare for lectures with my students and/or meetings in the office. I usually create time to visit [the] Research Farm to work on animals if I have any ongoing research. Afterward, some days, I go to pick my kids from school before heading home between 4 pm-6 pm, on weekdays. At home, I attend to my family and also have some rest before continuing with any outstanding work that I brought from the office.”
Hobbies and Volunteer Work
Outside of the workplace, Dr. NseAbasi Etim loves to explore hobbies like singing, dancing, and acting. She is also an avid volunteer and is very passionate about “positively impacting lives and contributing to global development” and she helps out at many various organizations. “I volunteered as the Matron of Uyo Students Association at my University. I also was the Chairman of the Scientific Committee and Quiz mistress during the Association of Animal Science Students of Nigeria Annual Conference, 2018, held in Akwa Ibom State University. I also volunteer as a mentor for several organizations. I mentored a college student in the Next Scholars program, presented by the New York Academy of Sciences, USA. I also mentor high school students from different countries of the world in 1000 Girls, 1000 Futures program, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) U and Junior Academy Challenge of the Global STEM Alliance, presented by the New York Academy of Sciences. I help guide students to develop 21st-century skills that will help them become the next generation of leaders in STEM fields and beyond. I’m also currently serving as a mentor in the Technovation Idea Lab and Mentor X-Africa Mentoring Program. I was a mentor in the CommonWealth Mentorship Program for Young Women. I also volunteered as a mentor in the 2020 Youth Innovation and Design Bootcamp on COVID-19, Inspire Africa Ignite Innovation Lab Digital Transformation, and AfricaVsVirus Challenge. Furthermore, I volunteered as a Judge for Conrad Innovation Challenge, Technovation Challenge, and R&D 100 Awards, otherwise called Oscars of Invention. I also served as a Judge during the Annual Meetings of the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences. I volunteered as a Committee member for the Graduate Women in Science (GWIS) USA National Fellowship Competition in 2019 and 2020. I also volunteer as an Ambassador of the New York Academy of Sciences and Ambassador of World Literacy Foundation, Australia. I serve as an Expert Reviewer for various Journals and other organizations.”
Q & A
Q: What is your favorite project that you’ve worked on?
A: “My Ph.D. research which focused on the Physiological and Reproductive Responses and Characteristics of West African Dwarf Rams to Aqueous Extracts of Aspilia Africana (African marigold plant) was my favorite project. Apart from the fact that it was one of the requirements I needed to fulfill to be awarded a Doctorate degree, I got to discover that although the African marigold plant has been celebrated as a growth promoter for animals, it also has deleterious effects on reproductive organs of animals. Without reproduction, animal production may come to a standstill. So that project led to several significant findings that have contributed to educational knowledge.”
Q: How do you feel that your job(s) have helped you grow?
A: “My job motivated me to complete my Ph.D. studies. Becoming a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) has opened more doors for me than I could have ever imagined.”
Q: What makes you want to keep coming back every day?
A: “My passionate for positive impacts and for global development.”
Q: What about this work inspires you?
A: “I’m inspired by the fact that my workplace does not in any way restrict me from actualizing my life’s goals.”
Q: What do you hope to accomplish here in the future?
A: “I hope to continue to impart knowledge to many generations of students, continue to conduct more innovative and problem-solving researches, make a positive difference in various other ways and grow in my career to become a Professor.”
Q: Why do you love your job in STEAM?
A: “Right from my childhood, I fell in love with science because I love everything about science — the discoveries and inventions, the ability of scientists to proffer solutions to real-life problems. I love that science is able to unravel mysteries. I love the fact that science is everywhere: in the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the air we breathe, and the way our body works. Science is a tool that has been able to save and serve humanity and the universe as a whole. So, in secondary school, I decided to become a science student. I found biology very interesting because I was able to know how the body works, so I planned to study Medicine at the University to become a Medical Doctor but today I am a Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Physiology. I am so much enjoying my life as an Animal Physiologist. I enjoy working and researching on animals as well as impacting knowledge to the next generation of scientists.”
Q: What are some of the challenges that you have faced throughout your career?
A: “The major challenge I faced in school as an undergraduate was lack of sponsorship. My dad did not believe in training a girl child. So my mum decided to bear the cost but her income was too little that I had to do several jobs from 16 years of age, to be able to co-sponsor my education. That challenge made me stronger and more determined for all-round success. At the workplace, the major challenge I face is the stress of dealing with unserious students. I have learned to employ counseling and mentorship when dealing with such students.”
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