Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
First Congolese awarded agriculture PhD at Stellenbosch University
STELLENBOSCH University ( SU) student Bilungi Alain Useni, from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has become the first Congolese to be awarded a PhD at the university’s Faculty of AgriSciences.
Useni, born in Kolwezi and trained at the University of Lubumbashi in Lubumbashi, has no regrets of making the university his home 10 years ago and hopes to use his expertise in his field to make a difference in agriculture.
His research was on the importance of energy supplementation for milk production and fertility of dairy cows.
Useni’s association with SU goes back to 2007 when he started as a special student in the Intensive English Programme at the university.
He enrolled for a MSc (Agric) degree at the university’s Department of Animal Sciences the following year, under the supervision of Dr Francois van de Vyver.
He completed his master’s degree in March 2011 and the following month was accepted by the Western Cape Agricultural Research Trust as a PhD student to conduct research on the fertility of dairy cows at the Elsenburg Research Farm of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDA), gaining experience and mentorship in dairy farming through the project.
Useni said his decision to study at SU was based on the culture of academic excellence and cutting- edge research in agriculture at the institution, and that he also wanted to improve his English proficiency.
He said his journey wasn’t always smooth sailing.
“At the beginning of my postgraduate training at SU, life was not always easy. Because my mother tongue is French, I struggled with English.
“Coming from a big family, I missed the social connection with my relatives. But, I was fortunate to have had the support of my brothers who were already in Cape Town when I arrived in South Africa.”
Useni said despite his initial struggles, he endured and even ventured outside his studies in agriculture to broaden his horizons. He completed short courses in leadership through community interaction, HIV peer education and gender facilitation, HIV counselling, Afrikaans for beginners and global citizenship.
He also worked for the university’s HIV co- ordination office on the HIV campaigns and outreaches,helped Matie Community Service in supporting local schools with student-led volunteer learning and interaction initiatives, and represented SU at the New Hope Summits.
Useni credits his success and cultural integration at the university to always having a cheerful disposition, working hard and perseverance.
He says he is grateful to his parents for instilling in him the desire to use education as a means of making progress in life and helping to create a better society.
He is also full of praise for his wife Rachel, a medical doctor, to whom he has been married for five years.
“She has been very supportive towards my studies and is the one who used to worry much about all the stresses of my studies. Without her support, life would have been very difficult. She is really an angel and a blessing to me.
“Rachel has also blessed me with two kids, Joshua who is three years old and Amelia who is four months.”
Useni holds his mentors in high regard, thanking Dr Carel Muller at the WCDA and Professor Christiaan Cruywagen at the university’s Department of Animal Sciences, for giving him the opportunity to do his doctorate.
He added he did not regret his decision 10 years ago to make SU his home.
“It formed me from humble and challenging beginnings to the person who I have become today.
“Through this academic achievement, I believe that I’ve made my family and anyone who invested directly or indirectly in me very proud, many thanks. Enkosi kakhulu. Baie dankie. Merci beaucoup. Asantesana.”
Regarding his future plans, Useni said he would like to work in the Southern African agricultural industry and use his knowledge to help find solutions for some of Africa’s problems, especially those related to agriculture.