Sussan Agber came to UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship with a vision to contribute to sustainable environmental policymaking in places like her home country of Nigeria.
Born and raised in Nigeria, Mastercard Foundation Scholar Kwaghdoo Sussan Agber (MIF’20) arrived at UBC with a vision to make a meaningful difference in environmental sustainability and forestry. While studying toward a Master of International Forestry at the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, Sussan also discovered her inner strength. She arrived at a newfound confidence to pursue her dreams, enriched by her volunteerism, activism and the supportive circles of people around. This Black History Month, Sussan has made a special commitment to dig deep, building on the stories of other Black immigrants in Canada to elevate her personal journey.
What holds particular significance for you this Black History Month?
It starts with talking about Black history as a whole. In Nigeria, I was the same as my peers. In Canada, there is so much diversity that, even subconsciously, it can make you vulnerable to experiencing imposter syndrome at times, maybe due to your skin colour or culture. I’m lucky that, as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar, I received an orientation that involved visiting historical Black communities, such as Vancouver’s Hogan’s Alley, introducing me to the history and life-experiences of other African-Canadians.
While Black History Month is something that I only heard about after moving to Canada, it became a reason to further explore Black history in my adopted country through museums and writings from Black artists and through historical accounts. For me, it has become a way to celebrate every part of who we are. It’s also a reminder that nothing should stop a person from being who they are and achieving their goals. Because this year’s Black History Month celebrates 30 years of the annual month-long event in February: “honouring Black brilliance across generations — from nation-builders to tomorrow’s visionaries,” I am challenging myself to be great, to rise above, get inspired, get educated and connect to creativity, resilience, innovation and leadership.
Is there one person in particular who has inspired you?
I admire the work and guidance of Dr. Joann Anokwuru (MEd’14, PhD’23). She is a District Resource Teacher of Inclusion with the Vancouver School Board and a vocal advocate of Black education and Black representation in the education sector. I first heard about her through a ‘Nigerians at UBC’ group where she constantly reminds Black parents to get involved in their children’s education. As immigrants, we can become so overly focused on work that we overlook other important areas of our lives. She reminds me to keep one eye on the bigger picture. I am also inspired by Viola Irene Desmond, who appears on the Canadian $10 bill, and Zanana Lorraine Akande, who was Ontario’s first Black female Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP).
Your journey to UBC is an inspiration in and of itself. Take us back to how you came to be among a prestigious cohort of Mastercard Foundation Scholars?
It all starts with my Bachelor of Forestry, specializing in Wildlife and Range Management, at the University of Agriculture Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. This opportunity exposed me to the world of tree identification, forestry biometrics, forest conservation and threats to forests from pests, disease, deforestation and desertification. I learned the reasons behind some of the forest clearing, burning and desertification I saw as a child growing up in Nigeria. I also envisioned myself as playing a part in preserving nature by working within our national parks.
Desertification is happening at a fast rate in Nigeria, affecting a significant percentage of the land. This has also heightened clashes between farmers and herders over access to resources. In northern Nigeria, forests have been taken over by terrorist groups like Boko Haram. I saw myself as being a voice to help spread awareness about deforestation and to help forest-dependent communities find ways to support their livelihoods over the long-term through sustainable, community-focused approaches to farming, tree harvesting and commercial operations.
I first heard about the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship at a 2014 international forestry student symposium hosted by the Faculty. Through this event, I connected with a group of students at UBC studying forestry and we kept in touch. Near the end of my undergraduate degree, I represented the Women Environmental Program in Nigeria at the 2016 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Marrakech, Morocco (COP22). That event sparked my interest in climate change policy, forest policy, governance, diplomacy and negotiation. Then, in 2017, a member of the UBC forestry group I was corresponding with encouraged me to apply for a Mastercard Foundation Scholarship, which ultimately led to me becoming a Mastercard Foundation Scholar and attending UBC to complete a Master of International Forestry.
What were some of your top takeaways from your Master of International Forestry degree?
One of my key learnings from this degree was to not be afraid to be myself. The faculty members were incredibly supportive throughout my studies, which helped prepare me for the job market. I also received a travel grant from the Faculty, which I directed toward attending the 2019 UNFCCC in Madrid, Spain (COP25). Because of how well my professors prepared me, I didn’t feel intimidated at the conference like I did the first time that I attended the UNFCCC. That made me so proud and happy. I also made many good friends through the Master of International Forestry program, some of whom remain among my closest friends today. Even now, whenever I visit a country where one of my many international classmates returned to, they are usually the first to pick me up from the airport or show me around town.
What is a piece of advice that you would offer to students wanting to differentiate themselves when applying to academic institutions, for scholarships or for jobs?
Volunteering is an important way to stand out from the crowd. I can say through personal experience that it opens many doors. I currently volunteer with the Pacific Spirit Park Society. In the past, I volunteered with the UBC Zero Waste Squad, as a UBC Sustainability Ambassador, with the ClimatEducate Project as the Director of Education and Advocacy, with the Women Environmental Program, with the Team54 Project International as the Acting Coordinator for Nigeria and with the Mediatrix Development Foundation. I also mentored in Nigeria. One time, a high-grade-point-average student reached out to me about applying for a scholarship. One of the first things that I suggested to them was to gain volunteer experience. They followed this advice and ended up getting a scholarship to study toward a master’s degree at the University of Cambridge.
What are you career goals?
In the near-term, my goal is to contribute to policy analysis with the BC Ministry of Forests or with Environment and Climate Change Canada. In the longer-term, I hope to work for the United Nations on forestry or environmental policy.
Written by Sarah Ripplinger, Writer, UBC Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship.
