Baobab and Beakers

For this months episode I spoke with Dr. Olubayo Adekanmbi, founder and CEO of Data Science Nigeria and Co-founder of EqualyzAI. We spoke about the role his childhood adventures and curiosity-driven experiements played in his path to becoming a researcher, the realization that led to the creation of Data Science Nigeria - an organization dedicated to democratising access to AI and data science edu...

In this episode, I speak with Professor Taofikat Adesalu, a professor of Botany in Algal Ecology and Limnology at the University of Lagos. We spoke about her childhood desire to study medicine and her transition to Botany. It started as a change of course form but was solidified one afternoon after looking at water samples from the Niger Delta under a microscope as an undergraduate student. Our co...

In this episode, I speak with Chinedu Mogbo, founder of Greenfingers Wildlife Conservation Initiative, about his journey from a childhood fascination with animals to establishing a wildlife sanctuary in Nigeria. We discuss the challenges he faced in transitioning to conservation, the current state of wildlife protection in Nigeria, and the importance of educating the younger generation about envir...

In this episode, I speak with Ore Disu, the director of the Institute at the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) located in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. We discuss Ore's journey from her childhood in Lagos to her career in architecture and urban development, and ultimately to her role in museum management. Ore shares insights on the importance of cultural institutions in Africa, the challeng...

In this episode, I speak with Daniel Obiokeke, co-founder of Space Bar Africa. Alongside Segun Ojelade and Ema Odia, he is dedicated to making telescopes and astronomy accessible in Africa; starting with Nigeria. We discuss experiences that sparked his interest in the night sky and those that prompted the creation of Space Bar, and we discuss some of the gaps that exist in the Nigerian Space resea...

In this episode, I speak with Jadesola Adedeji, a social impact entrepreneur dedicated to transforming education in Nigeria through innovative STEM programs. We discuss her childhood experiences that shaped her interest in STEM, her journey from the pharmaceutical industry to education, and the founding of STEM METS, a social enterprise focused on bridging the skills gap in the Nigerian education...

Welcome to the first episode of Baobab and Beakers,  In this episode, I review the results from the State of STEM in Nigeria Survey I conducted in January of 2024 and give an introduction to this first volume of Baobab and Beakers - an encyclopedic approach that aims to understand who and what makes up the landscape of STEM in Nigeria through conversations with STEM professionals and enthusiasts t...

This first volume is an encyclopedic approach that aims to understand who and what makes up the landscape of STEM in Nigeria through conversations with STEM professionals and enthusiasts that I consider stakeholders of this landscape. Every third Saturday of the month, I will be uploading a conversation with a stakeholder and in it I hope to learn about the realities and possibilities of STEM in N...