Nicole Uzile Sibanda ’26 came to Ashesi University guided by an ambition to study Economics. She discovered Ashesi through a presentation at a Yale Young Scholars Award event, and was drawn by its strong emphasis on ethics and the availability of scholarships.
Many years down the line, she recalls the news of her enrollment in a comprehensive scholarship program vividly. “It felt very safe that my education was being covered” she says. “It meant that all I had to do was to study.” The financial support, she notes, allowed her to fully immerse herself in her academic and extracurricular pursuits.
Sibanda describes her Ashesi experience as “thrilling, fun, and adventurous,” while noting that it has also been marked by growth in different aspects of her life.
“Before Ashesi, I was shy and found it difficult to express myself in networking spaces,” she says. “Now, I engage confidently. I’m always looking for ways to solve problems collaboratively, which makes me feel like I have grown to become a leader.”
Sibanda was a member of Ashesi’s International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) team, where she contributed to projects focused on using synthetic biology to address coastal erosion along Ghana’s coastline. She also led the iGEM Entrepreneurship unit, exploring pathways to transform their proposed solutions into viable ventures.
Last year, Sibanda participated in the Applied Methods and Research Experience (AMRE) organized by the College of Wooster in collaboration with Ashesi. In this role, she served as a consultant for West View Healthy Living in Ohio, gaining insight into the senior care housing industry in the United States while reflecting on how similar models could be adapted to African contexts.
After learning about the long-term impact of food poverty on children, she worked with her team to address the issue through the Map the System Competition organized by Oxford University. The team is currently developing a systems map that explores how childhood food poverty shapes outcomes later in life. They are also identifying strategies to reduce these long-term effects, which they will present to judges as part of the competition. Additionally, Sibanda is conducting research in this area under Reach Alliance.
As a coach for Ashesi’s Foundations of Design and Entrepreneurship (FDE) course, she guided students in identifying meaningful problems and developing practical solutions.
When asked what her biggest lesson on this journey has been, Sibanda said, “Do hard things. It always brings good results, at least from my experience.”
