From Nigeria to TU Delft, via Philips Research Laboratories, Delft Associate Professor Kofi Makinwa is living the European dream of many talented researchers from the African continent.
But while his professional career flourishes here, he hasn’t forgotten those less fortunate. Makinwa is striving to create links between TU Delft and Nigerian universities that will give other talented African students and researchers the chance to prosper in the Netherlands.
Dr. Kofi Makinwa was born in Ghana in 1964, but spent much of his life and studies in Nigeria, where he received his Electronic Engineering degrees from Obafemi Awolowo University. When his friends told him about a scholarship Philips was offering back in 1987, little did the now associate professor at TU Delft’s Electronic Instrumentation Laboratory think that it would be the turning point in his life.
Wanting a better quality education and chance to work in an international environment, Makinwa applied for the Philips scholarship and got it. “It was like winning the lottery,” Makinwa recalls. “The scholarship was offered only to two persons, and to win one was a dream come true. I was overjoyed!”
Makinwa began his working career in 1989 as a research scientist at Philips Research Laboratories in Eindhoven, where for ten years he developed electronic systems for interactive displays and optical and magnetic storage systems. So why did he leave Philips?
“It was a common practice to move research staff into other areas of work after ten years,” he says. “My passion, however, was research and I wanted to continue with that. So when TU Delft offered me a research position, I decided to leave Philips.”
Asked if he experienced any culture shocks in the Netherlands, Makinwa laughs. “I was really surprised the first time I saw the boss cycling to work. In Nigeria, a secretary would’ve been mortified if she saw that and immediately arranged a company car for boss.”
Makinwa’s Dutch experience has been a very positive one. “The thing that I appreciated most about the Dutch when I first arrived here was that people treated me as a person, someone with an unusual and interesting background. They were very open and wanted to hear about my experiences. The fact that my skin is a different color made no difference. For years, I used to be the only black guy sitting in the Philips canteen. There was no racism. I was just Kofi. I was one of the guys.”
It hasn’t however always been so positive for Makinwa when visiting other European countries. “On a visit to Germany, I felt people staring at me, not in a curious or neutral way, but in a negative way. And then there is London, where I once tapped a woman on her shoulder to ask what time it was. She turned around, saw me, and instinctively took two steps back. What did she think I was going to do? Attack her in the middle of Oxford Street? Ridiculous!” Makinwa scoffs, throwing up his hands, but adds that one must avoid generalizing based on a few incidents, as people looking for racism will usually find it.
Little steps
Having made his home in the Netherlands, would Makinwa ever consider returning to Nigeria? “Perhaps,” he says. But giving something back to his home country is certainly high on his priority list. Makinwa sponsors activities in his former university and sends them study books. Recently, he’s been involved in establishing links between TU Delft and Nigerian universities.
“There’s a steady drop in the number of Dutch engineering students, whereas there’s huge numbers of Africans who’d like to study engineering,” Makinwa says. “Many of these Africans would do very well if exposed to the kind of educational setup we have here.”
Last November, TU Delft signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Nigeria and has plans to exchange students. Nigerian staff may also be exposed to the work culture here and staff from TU Delft may give guests lectures in Nigeria. “It’s a good beginning,” Makinwa says. “Both parties are taking little steps to see how it works to the benefit of TU Delft and the Nigerians.”
Nigerians, Makinwa says, are people with lots of self-confidence: “Africans are, to a certain extent, proud people who don’t like to finish second. The few African students at TU Delft have much more drive than the Dutch students. They’ve seen poverty and see education as their way out. They’re not satisfied with a 6 when they know they can get a 10. Many Dutch students are.”
Makinwa does feel that the infrastructure in Delft brings out the best in his students: “I really appreciate the Dutch being straight and telling it like it is. My Dutch students tell me I’m wrong if they think so. We can have free discussions and brainstorm for different ideas. In Nigeria, it’s different. Nigerians have a lot of respect for seniority, so free discussions are out of the question. It’s bad for development, because you can’t be right all the time, can you?”
But wouldn’t there be a brain-drain with Nigerians leaving the country in search of a better life? “It’s not a bad thing,” Makinwa replies. “I for one think it’s good, because with the extra knowledge Nigerians can return home to help develop the country. It’s an opportunity for the future. There’s a lot of potential in Nigeria.”
So how can other countries help? “Most Nigerian kids must go to primary school. But after primary school, it gets progressively more difficult, as there isn’t much government sponsorship. Parents living in poverty often cannot afford to send their children to secondary school. Much more investment in schooling is needed, because it’s education that will solve the country’s long-term problems.”
His optimism says that perhaps in ten years time, Nigeria will be ready for its talents to return home. “I can’t say that I won’t return,” says Makinwa, who is married and has three sons. “I’ll think about it only when the time comes.” But for now, his passion for research is keeping him busy enough.
“Much more investment in schooling is needed, because it’s education that will solve the country’s long-term problems”, says Kofi Makinwa. (Photo: Hans Stakelbeek/FMAX)
Dr. Kofi Makinwa was born in Ghana in 1964, but spent much of his life and studies in Nigeria, where he received his Electronic Engineering degrees from Obafemi Awolowo University. When his friends told him about a scholarship Philips was offering back in 1987, little did the now associate professor at TU Delft’s Electronic Instrumentation Laboratory think that it would be the turning point in his life.
Wanting a better quality education and chance to work in an international environment, Makinwa applied for the Philips scholarship and got it. “It was like winning the lottery,” Makinwa recalls. “The scholarship was offered only to two persons, and to win one was a dream come true. I was overjoyed!”
Makinwa began his working career in 1989 as a research scientist at Philips Research Laboratories in Eindhoven, where for ten years he developed electronic systems for interactive displays and optical and magnetic storage systems. So why did he leave Philips?
“It was a common practice to move research staff into other areas of work after ten years,” he says. “My passion, however, was research and I wanted to continue with that. So when TU Delft offered me a research position, I decided to leave Philips.”
Asked if he experienced any culture shocks in the Netherlands, Makinwa laughs. “I was really surprised the first time I saw the boss cycling to work. In Nigeria, a secretary would’ve been mortified if she saw that and immediately arranged a company car for boss.”
Makinwa’s Dutch experience has been a very positive one. “The thing that I appreciated most about the Dutch when I first arrived here was that people treated me as a person, someone with an unusual and interesting background. They were very open and wanted to hear about my experiences. The fact that my skin is a different color made no difference. For years, I used to be the only black guy sitting in the Philips canteen. There was no racism. I was just Kofi. I was one of the guys.”
It hasn’t however always been so positive for Makinwa when visiting other European countries. “On a visit to Germany, I felt people staring at me, not in a curious or neutral way, but in a negative way. And then there is London, where I once tapped a woman on her shoulder to ask what time it was. She turned around, saw me, and instinctively took two steps back. What did she think I was going to do? Attack her in the middle of Oxford Street? Ridiculous!” Makinwa scoffs, throwing up his hands, but adds that one must avoid generalizing based on a few incidents, as people looking for racism will usually find it.
Little steps
Having made his home in the Netherlands, would Makinwa ever consider returning to Nigeria? “Perhaps,” he says. But giving something back to his home country is certainly high on his priority list. Makinwa sponsors activities in his former university and sends them study books. Recently, he’s been involved in establishing links between TU Delft and Nigerian universities.
“There’s a steady drop in the number of Dutch engineering students, whereas there’s huge numbers of Africans who’d like to study engineering,” Makinwa says. “Many of these Africans would do very well if exposed to the kind of educational setup we have here.”
Last November, TU Delft signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Nigeria and has plans to exchange students. Nigerian staff may also be exposed to the work culture here and staff from TU Delft may give guests lectures in Nigeria. “It’s a good beginning,” Makinwa says. “Both parties are taking little steps to see how it works to the benefit of TU Delft and the Nigerians.”
Nigerians, Makinwa says, are people with lots of self-confidence: “Africans are, to a certain extent, proud people who don’t like to finish second. The few African students at TU Delft have much more drive than the Dutch students. They’ve seen poverty and see education as their way out. They’re not satisfied with a 6 when they know they can get a 10. Many Dutch students are.”
Makinwa does feel that the infrastructure in Delft brings out the best in his students: “I really appreciate the Dutch being straight and telling it like it is. My Dutch students tell me I’m wrong if they think so. We can have free discussions and brainstorm for different ideas. In Nigeria, it’s different. Nigerians have a lot of respect for seniority, so free discussions are out of the question. It’s bad for development, because you can’t be right all the time, can you?”
But wouldn’t there be a brain-drain with Nigerians leaving the country in search of a better life? “It’s not a bad thing,” Makinwa replies. “I for one think it’s good, because with the extra knowledge Nigerians can return home to help develop the country. It’s an opportunity for the future. There’s a lot of potential in Nigeria.”
So how can other countries help? “Most Nigerian kids must go to primary school. But after primary school, it gets progressively more difficult, as there isn’t much government sponsorship. Parents living in poverty often cannot afford to send their children to secondary school. Much more investment in schooling is needed, because it’s education that will solve the country’s long-term problems.”
His optimism says that perhaps in ten years time, Nigeria will be ready for its talents to return home. “I can’t say that I won’t return,” says Makinwa, who is married and has three sons. “I’ll think about it only when the time comes.” But for now, his passion for research is keeping him busy enough.
“Much more investment in schooling is needed, because it’s education that will solve the country’s long-term problems”, says Kofi Makinwa. (Photo: Hans Stakelbeek/FMAX)
Comments are closed.