One of Nicholas' strongest childhood memories is farmers lining up to seek advice from his mother and uncle. Many members of his family were agricultural extension officers, you see, and they were in demand for their farm enterprise expertise.

“This upbringing encouraged me to pursue a career in agriculture,” he said.

One of Nicholas' strongest childhood memories is farmers lining up to seek advice from his mother and uncle. Many members of his family were agricultural extension officers, you see, and they were in demand for their farm enterprise expertise.

“This upbringing encouraged me to pursue a career in agriculture,” he said.

Nicholas studied horticulture and has pursued a field in academia - teaching, researching and supervising students on different aspects of agricultural sciences with a bias towards horticulture, crop protection.

Keen to also keep his feet in the field, he also consults on agricultural technologies to smallholder farmers, NGOs, private companies.

Nicholas has been an academic mentor throughout his career. He therefore sees this as an opportunity to further mentor more youngsters and improve his mentoring skills. Nicholas is excited to share his past experiences and things that he has learnt with the other YPARD mentoring program participants. 

“It will be a great feeling knowing that I have helped others in my own way. Not only by answering their questions and concerns but more importantly by assisting them to realize their potential,” he says.

Nicholas says he will use his mentoring experiences in dealing with his future clients as a consultant by being confident and sociable – being able to communicate with them effectively, asking them questions and explaining to them the design process and solutions for the services he offers.