How is Impact Investing Contributing to Developments in Science, Technology and Innovation with Khalid Garba Mohammed

Khalid Garba Mohammed has extensive experience in both government and international non-governmental Organizations from 2012 to date. He is a registered and licensed pharmacist in Nigeria and worked as a hospital and community pharmacist for some years before switching to academia. He also worked as resource person for Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) in Nigeria. Khalid is presently pursuing his Ph.D. in Applied Pharmaceutical Technology, at the University of Milan, Italy. He is a lecturer with the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bayero University, Kano-Nigeria, and has also served as a guest lecturer at the School of Pharmacy, University of Charleston, USA. Khalid has presented scientific papers at various International conferences and served as an executive member of many professional associations including the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Nigerian Association of Pharmacists in Academia (NAPA), and Ahmadu Bello University Alumni Association. He is currently an executive member of the International Pharmaceutical Federation, Young Pharmacist Group (FIP-YPG) with headquarters in the Hague, Netherlands.
Khalid will be delivering his workshop on the topic, “Impact Investment in Science, Technology and Innovation”. This interview aims to provide Youth Global Forum 2018 participants with insight into what they can expect from the workshop, in addition to learning how to best prepare for the event.

Khalid, thank you for agreeing to an interview as we build up toward the Youth Global Forum 2018. Please share with us a short introduction about yourself, your career, and areas of expertise.

Khalid Garba Mohammed

First of all, I started from a humble beginning, I was born and raised in one of the ancient cities in West Africa called Kano in Nigeria on November 4th 1988. After formal primary and high school education, I moved to the Ahmadu Bello University where I gained my B.Pharm. degree in 2012. During my undergraduate school days, I was humbled to serve as President of two renowned Students’ Associations, Kano-Jigawa States Pharmaceutical Students Association (KAJIPSA), and Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students (PANS) for one academic year each, 2010 and 2011 respectively. I am glad to say that, my leadership adventures started there. Following a mandatory one-year internship at the Federal Medical Centre, Azare, where I inter switched with community pharmacy practice. Later, I worked for another one year at Murtala Muahammad Specialist Hospital in Kano, as the Pharmacist in-charge of Accident and Emergency Pharmacy Unit. While working as hospital pharmacist, I was also opportune to work with some NGOs like Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), and Health Action International. With so much passion and enthusiasm for higher education, I moved back to my former university for M.Sc. in Pharmaceutics in 2014, and luckily for me, at the same time I was offered the job of my dream i.e lecturing at Bayero University. I am now Lecturer II, I also practiced voluntary teaching at School of Health Technology, Kano, Nigeria. Presently I am pursuing my Ph.D. in Applied Pharmaceutical Technology in Italy. My areas of specialization including oromucosal and trans(dermal) drug delivery systems, and oral tablets. Their formulations and characterization.

What is it about the Youth Global Forum 2018 that interests you most, and how does the overall theme align with your personal values and area of expertise?

The idea by the organizers to bring together experienced experts from different fields and promising young leaders under one roof is what interests me most. Indeed, it is through such fora that mentoring usually starts. I could remember my early years as a professional. I became inspired and motivated by attending public gatherings where senior professionals from my own field gathered to discuss issues related to pharmacy profession. Such experiences actually helped me to define my goals and set my priorities.

Would you share with us a brief description of what your presentation on “Impact Investment in Science, Technology and Innovation” is going to be about? Will there be any particular areas of focus?

Well, my presentation aims to relate the idea of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), (i.e to envisage a world free of poverty, hunger, disease and want, where all life can thrive, a world with universal literacy and universal access to quality education at all levels) to the theme of the Youth Global Forum 2018. In particular, I will highlight some major problems hindering investment in Science, Technology and Innovation particularly in the underdeveloped countries, and then discuss the key Impact that investing in Science, Technology, and Innovation will bring – particularly in addressing SDG numbers 1,2,3,5,9 and 14. The need for intensive interconnectivity between academic researchers and industries will be highlighted. This will help to understand new frontiers in science and technology.

What lessons can participants expect to gain from your workshop and how will they best apply it in both their personal and professional lives?

With all humility, I will try to demonstrate myself as an example of the product of investing in Science, Technology and Innovation. My M.Sc. degree and now Ph.D. are all funded by government institutions, and for that, I can say that I am seeing the best version of myself every blessed day. I am more responsible now, of course because of those opportunities given to me, and now I can guide others and even contribute my quota in improving the lives of others.

Is there any advice you can offer in advance to Youth Global Forum 2018 participants who will attend your workshop?

I will say to the participants, please always believe in yourself and believe in your own natural talents and potentials. You must be passionate about whatever you are engaged in – be it your own business, as an employer, researcher or anything else, you must be passionate about it. The passion is what gives you the energy to thrive and put in your best. Whenever you put in your best, positive outcomes usually follow. Of course, one must be patient at the beginning of whatever career path they take because one cannot climb the mountain in just a blink of an eye. You can always think big and start small, then build-up gradually. Have your goals clearly defined and imagine where you will be and what you’ll be doing in the next 10 years.

Are there any additional topics or elements you wish to bring to our attention or add to the discussion?

Yes. I would also like to raise the importance of impact investing in youth health and development. It’s noteworthy and indeed very relevant to discuss issues related youth health – particularly with the nature of our society today. Globally, the young generation are among the vulnerable people prone to health-related problems such as drugging, smoking, thuggery, unplanned and unprotected sexual relations among others. Most of these vices have health-related consequences, like neurological problems that may lead to mental problems, spread of communicable and non-communicable diseases, and in the long run, all these can have a negative impact on the society at large, because they lead to social violence and insecurity. However, investing in improving youth awareness about their health and how to use their talent in a positive way will greatly curtail most of our societal problems whilst creating a greener atmosphere for youth and the wider community.

Photos: From the Archive of Khalid Garba Mohammed

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