Godson Ufomba

You come from Nigeria, a country different from the Czech Republic in many ways. Did your expectations come true?

As an African who was born and raised in a highly populated industrial city in a tropical country, I always hoped to spend part of my life in a country with a temperate climate, a safe environment, natural landscapes, and a beautiful architectural heritage. And I can say that the country has lived up to my expectations. Tourist attractions in Nigeria are primarily based on their historical significance, with no emphasis on aesthetics. Unlike Nigeria, the Czech Republic has beautiful hills with grasses and trees and fascinating Baroque and Gothic architecture. One of the most beautiful examples I have seen is Prague Castle. I wanted to experience a different culture in continental Europe and learn a new Latin-based language.

So I am currently trying very hard to learn basic Czech words and sentences. In Nigeria, the national sport is football, while in the Czech Republic you have ice hockey. There are many differences in the two countries’ architecture, landscape, language, climate, culture, cuisine, and sports. But most importantly, in my experience I can say that the Czechs are very calm and friendly. It is not surprising that the Czech Republic has consistently ranked in the top ten in the World Peace Index in recent years.

Why did you decide to study for a PhD at UCT?

I was interested in doing a doctorate at UCT mainly because of its specialization in chemistry and the achievements of the late professors Otto Wichterle and Emil Votoček. Ever since I was in high school, chemistry and mathematics have been two of my favourite science subjects. Besides the late Professor Jindřich Nečas from Charles University, Professors Wichterle and Votoček were among the Czech scientists I looked up to after my previous studies in chemical engineering. During my studies I became very interested in the prediction and improvement of chemical products, chemical processes and fluid flow processes using computer mathematical modelling. It was these professors’ contribution to the development of soft contact lenses, chemical nomenclature and numerical modelling that sparked my interest in studying at the University in Prague.

What do you see as the biggest differences between studying at university in Nigeria and the Czech Republic?

Perhaps the most significant differences are in the ratio of teachers to students and in student exchange programmes. Universities in Nigeria have a lower teacher-student ratio and usually do not have student exchange programmes that are typical in Czech universities, such as Erasmus. Thanks to these programs, students in the Czech Republic have the opportunity to experience the culture of another country, learn a new language and be supervised by researchers who are experts in certain specialties that may not be available at their home university. This is probably the biggest difference from Nigeria.

Whom would you recommend to study at the UCT Prague University Centre in Litvínov?

That's easy. Any student who has a genuine passion to one day become a top professional in the chemicals industry.