UM6P postgrad joins CAS as an intern
Nigerian student Anang Didam is the first African student to be attached to CAS
The NTU-SBF Centre for African Studies hit a milestone this month as it welcomed a 27-year-old Nigerian student as its first African intern. Anang Didam Patrick who is pursuing a Master’s in Agribusiness Innovation at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Morocco, arrived in Singapore on 5 June 2025 for a 6-month internship stint at the Centre.
“It still feels a little surreal that something I once hoped for has now become a reality,” said Anang. “Being at the Centre offers me the chance to deepen my understanding of African development, particularly in trade, business, and investment, from a global lens. What excites me most about the Centre is its role in shaping how Asia engages with Africa. I believe it truly matters that Africans are part of those conversations. So, I’m really glad to be contributing to work that produces the kind of insights that can lead to more informed and balanced partnerships between both continents.”
Her confirmation was not easy. She was initially supposed to join CAS in April, but her University-supported student visa application was rejected. It was only after an appeal, supported by letters from the NTU-SBF Centre for African Studies and the Nigerian High Commission, that the application was approved, allowing her to finally arrive in Singapore.
Over the next 6 months, she will assist Centre Director Amit Jain with research and operational matters. She will also be attending the Africa Singapore Business Forum, which is being hosted by Enterprise Singapore, a state-agency tasked with helping local firms expand overseas. The NTU-SBF Centre for African Studies is one of the supporting partners of the event.
