By Ndaba Nhuku| Over the years l have met and become friends to many people from all over the world via social media esp Facebook. My political analysis, and commentary in various subjects has made me engage with people of various backgrounds and nationalities. I remember one day getting a message from someone writing a thesis about African land repossession. I was surprised as l am not expert on the subject. He had to tell me about coming across long forgotten article l had written about land being sold to foreigners by our govts. At some point l wrote about that beautiful and world renowned Cecil the Lion. There began a long journey of friendship with a fellow Zimababwean sister, Dr Nobuhle Ndlovu who got capped yesterday at the University of UN in Japan. She loves environmental issues the way some of us love our food and politics. Her PhD thesis was entitled, ” Vulnerability to climate and socioeconomic changes to small scale fisheries in Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe.”

Dr Nobuhle is now one of the numerous educated professional Zimbabweans abroad who graduated from renowned universities, but may feel there is no room for personal and professional improvement in their country because of the current suffocating system run on political basis. These Zimbabweans remain committed to serving their nation in a positively conducive environment.

Anyway back to Dr Nobuhle. Prior to her PhD studies in Japan Dr Nobuhle completed her first degree in Biological Sciences at the Midlands State University. She joined National Parks as an Ecologist. She took a study leave to pursue a Masters in Integrated Water Resources Management under the WaterNet SADC Programme at the University of Zimbabwe and Harry Openiener Okavango Research Centre of the University of Botswana. Also before taking up her PhD in Japan, she worked with World Vision Zimbabwe and FAO Southern Africa on Govt Secondment

Dr Ndlovu’s story is indeed inspirational to many young people. Her journey was not easy and certainly arduous for a lady applying for a PhD program to a global university that takes a very limited number of students per year. She got a scholarship, and emphasises that “Access to Internet is important when applying for scholarships.” Working at Zim national parks, she was looking for a PhD scholarship in a relevant area of her career till she came across the UN program. She applied to United Nations University and successfully beat thousands othere applicants.

The university only takes about 10 students per year, 7 Masters, 3 PhD students. She got the Japan Foundation for the United Nations University Scholarship which supports students from developing countries. She was in the in the SDG era (2015-2030), offering the Sustainability Science Programme which focuses on Global changes and resilience, sustainable societies and ecosystem services. There are other UNU institutions in other countries that focus on other global issues, but the headquarters is in Tokyo, Japan
The UNU subjects or courses mainly focus on the UN activities, because the university is the the think-tank of the UN.

So those of you interested must use internet for good results and not only abusing us when we discuss socioeconomic issues!! Go on the Internet and apply, bearing in mind it’s highly competitive and you need all the best help you can get to make your application stand out.

As Dr Ndlovu leaves her university, she is happy that a fellow Zimbabwean has taken her place in the PhD program!! So young people, it’s not beyond you, it can be done! Her achievement fits well into our national and continental needs as we daily read about environmental and ecological problems. And also remember that 2000-2015 was the millennium development goals era. Now 2015-2030 is the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) era, so a PhD in Sustainability will help Zim and Africa in implementing SDGs