Christina Atekmangoh

Alumni portrait of alumna Christina, from the Master of Science in Development Studies. Interview was conducted in January 2024.

Hi Christina! You graduated from Development Studies in 2011. What have you been up to since your graduation?

Since graduating, I continued my studies at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland, where I did a PhD in Anthropology and Sociology of Development, thanks to a scholarship from the Rolex foundation and the Graduate Institute. My research was a continuation of my master thesis, looking at gender and family dynamics in migrants' remittances. Upon graduation, I worked as a Research Consultant with the UN Migration Agency, IOM (International Organisation for Migration) from 2017 to 2018 in a project called "Assessing the Migration, Climate Change and Conflict Dimension in the Lake Chad Region" (Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria and Niger). From October 2018, I am working as a Program Officer in charge of Migration Governance with IOM Niger.

What does your daily routine look like?

Daily routine can sometimes differ, depending on the evolution of activities and geo-political situation. But in a nutshell, it includes support and coordination with the government of Niger on migration governance, notably on policies, research, migrants' protection. I also work on regional thematic as it relates to migration, notably with ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) and other countries within the subregion including diplomatic missions of migrants' countries of origin on aspects of transit migration.

What is your fondest memory from your student days in Lund?

It was the student nation parties and the "fikas". There was also a falafel joint not far from the university, a falafel wrap cost 25 SEK, so it was almost a daily lunch routine.

You currently work and reside in the Republic of Niger. What do you enjoy the most about working and living in Niger?

I enjoy the solidarity and communal spirit of the population. There is still a strong cultural adherence by local population, and this is quite evident in their daily lives. Nigerians are also very welcoming and open to strangers including migrants.

How has your time at Lund University influenced your life?

While at Lund University, I learned about the 'free-style' less bureaucratic nature of interaction between students and teachers/professors at the university. This facilitates conversation and allow me to easily approach and professors and ask questions. Also, the practice of group work has influenced me a lot. It helped me to improve my skills on teamwork which is very much needed in the humanitarian field. In Sweden, it is not about one person winning, what is more important is that we win as a group, as a team. And this has been important in shaping my skills in this regard.

Do you have any advice to current students pursuing a masters at Lund University?

I would tell them to take the opportunity from the rich repertoire of experts and professors at Lund University. They should ask questions when in doubt, and they will receive all the support they need. To my fellow students from Africa, I would advice to learn more from the Swedish-model of education which will be helpful later in their academic and professional life.

What advice would you give to students looking to embark on a journey of lifelong learning?

I will say that they should be passionate about learning. No knowledge is ever useless, skills learned in life would always be useful at some point in our life. Inspired by Chinua Achebe, prof. Francis Nymanjoh wrote that "Being and becoming African is a permanent work in progres..." In the same logic, I will advice students that lifelong learning should be integral in their being and becoming human.