Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program alumnus Muhammad Balarabe explains how his experiences in Cambridge are helping him contribute to a sustainable future for Africa.
Muhammad Balarabe graduated from the American University of Nigeria in 2021 with a passion for public health and a clear plan; to learn from leading global health experts by completing a Master’s in Population Health Sciences in Cambridge.
After successfully applying to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cambridge, he was one of 16 African students in the very first cohort of Mastercard Foundation Scholars – the class of 2022/23.
Although overwhelming at first, Muhammad soon felt at home in his new environment and thrived as part of a large, vibrant community of African students.
Sixteen months on from completing his course, Muhammad tells us how he’s putting what he learnt into practice.
Brilliant to speak to you again Muhammad. You were very enthusiastic about this course – did it live up to your expectations?
“Absolutely. The first few months were quite tough – I was moving away from a structured way of learning to something very open. It’s pretty much interactive learning rather than you being on the receiving end.
But as I got used to this new way of working it was very clear and I learnt exactly what I wanted to, which is to understand some of the transboundary factors affecting healthcare around the world.
For the first time I could clearly see some of the issues in even the most advanced healthcare settings – in the US, the UK – and the implications around the world.
One other thing the course did was give me the opportunity to learn how to be reflective – to view everything from my own perspective. Bringing your perspective to the discussion is what drives innovation and progress.”
What have you been up to since you completed your course in July in 2023?
“Right at the end of my course, I had the opportunity to pursue an internship as part of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. I knew that was an opportunity for me to get into an African institution in the field I wanted to work in.
So I got in touch, through one of my amazing tutors at Cambridge, and got connected to the African Centre for Cities at the University of Cape Town.
I started speaking with them and got interested in a project they were working on with the WHO about sustainable, age-friendly cities within the African context. They gave me the opportunity to be a visiting researcher for six months.”
Muhammad visiting the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria, with his PVAC team
What an opportunity! What did you do next?
“While doing my internship, I had the opportunity to work with another African institution called Busara Center for Behavioral Economics. It’s a research and advisory firm based in Nairobi but has offices in Nigeria and a presence in about 50 different countries around the world.
I started off in the Nigerian office working with their health portfolio as an associate and I’ve been working on healthcare projects since then in Nigeria, in Guinea-Bissau, and some in Kenya as well.
I’m currently working as a Technical Advisor for the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) in Nigeria. It’s a cross-ministerial organisation that works to mobilise billions of dollars in investment to drive private sector growth, enhance domestic manufacturing of health commodities and improve healthcare service quality across the country.”
To finish, what would you say to anyone thinking of applying for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cambridge?
“I’d definitely recommend it. It was overwhelming at first – that was my first time out of the continent, in a new place, a new culture. But there’s so much support right from day one. The support structure made me feel at home. I easily assimilated and was able to get on with my degree.
But more than anything, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program has given me the opportunity to return to Africa and contribute, to change narratives and to do things in better ways.”