“I see myself growing to become a top computational biologist who applies machine learning to solve health problems.” – Confidence Vandu, Pioneer Data Science Fellow.
As a country, we need ideas and innovations to make progress against the many problems we face. It is difficult to solve problems that cannot be quantified, hence, the need and application of big data that can enable developing countries like Nigeria to determine the extent of problems like the spread of infectious diseases, availability and distribution of food and water, access to energy and electricity, sanitation, and primary health care before setting a roadmap to solve them.
Young, creative, and talented people who can contribute to this important work are everywhere, but the opportunity to develop such talents is limited. This is why the Kaduna State Government took a giant leap by partnering with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Natview Foundation to launch the Data Science Fellowship Programme to upgrade the skills of young people in Data Science. The Click-On Kaduna Data Science Fellowship Programme has grown to become a prestigious human capital development platform with outstanding success stories. One such powerful success story is Confidence Vandu – a graduate of Biology from Kaduna State University. We got the opportunity to have an interview with her and she revealed how difficult it was for her to transition from a biologist to a Data Analyst.
Miss Vandu got to learn about the fellowship program after successfully completing her National Youth Service. During her service year, she worked at a Pharmacy and helped them analyze data to determine which pharmaceutical items to restock and by how many.
“At the time, I only knew how to use excel for data analysis.”, she said.
For her, the application journey into the DSFP was a tense one, and it was her experience with the panelists at the interview stage that fueled her desire to succeed in the fellowship.
Confidence shared her in-class training experience with us. According to her, she enjoyed the step-by-step guidance and personal reviews from her instructors while learning programming skills and also the opportunity to apply what she learned during her fieldwork. She got to learn a lot of communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and public speaking skills during the program.
After her graduation from the fellowship, Confidence, along with some of her colleagues in class co-founded ‘Krocs Analytica’, a freelance data analyst start-up before securing a job in Abuja. She moved to Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, a couple of months ago after she secured a job she learned about on LinkedIn
“I became active on LinkedIn after a social media session we had during the program. During the session, the instructor spoke about ways we can market our skills online. So, that was what I did, I asked myself, how best do I sell myself? Then I decided to make use of LinkedIn.”
As a course facilitator for data analysis at the Abuja Data School, Confidence taught Python Excel, SQL, and R-programme during one-on-one sessions with students.
“It is a very fulfilling job because I am considering the skills I’m learning. During the Data Science Fellowship, I learned Data Science as a leaner in class, I also learned Data Science working in the field, and now I am learning Data Science as a teacher, so it has been very interesting for me as I am getting to enjoy the different phases of learning.”
In the long term, Confidence sees herself growing to become a top computational biologist who applies machine learning to solve health problems.
“In the beginning, I knew a lot of things I could do and things I should be doing, but my passion was not so clearly defined before the fellowship. As I got to see the health condition we face as a country during our fieldwork, I have found a new passion, where I hope to merge my first degree and data science. Thanks to the program, I am now more focused and I know exactly what I want to be.”
Back in September, Confidence secured an Entry Level Training Program (Tech Cohort) with a leading bank in Lagos, and we believe that this is just another stepping stone for her to achieve her dreams.
