Text: Jasmijn van Holsteijn | 17 December 2025
Since the age of eight, Elizabeth has loved fixing broken computers and televisions. Her father repaired items for people in their community and, whenever he left the house, she would secretly play with his tools. Her father discouraged her from doing this because repairing things was not considered something girls should do.
Growing up in a society where women were expected to get married and have children, Elizabeth realised early on she wanted a different path. ‘When my family or people around me told me I couldn’t do something, I went ahead and proved them wrong.’
You decided to study engineering in Poland. How did you get from Nigeria to Poland?
‘I searched online for universities that offered engineering programmes in English, and I found one in Poland. Without my family knowing, I applied and received a scholarship. Once everything was arranged, I told them I was moving to Poland. They were shocked and disappointed that I hadn’t told them earlier, but I felt they would have found a million reasons for me not to go.
I moved to Poland when I was 18. It was challenging because it was the first time abroad, in a country where I knew no one and I didn’t speak the language. The cold was also very different from the tropical climate I was used to. Luckily, my Polish roommate helped me get settled and find my way around.’
How did you experience the classroom environment at your university?
‘In a class of 52 students, I was the only woman and the only black person. During laboratory sessions, male students would say things like: “Don’t do it, we will handle this,” or “You can take the notes.” But I thought: no, we are all here to learn. If you can do it, I can do it as well, because technical skills are not innate. They are learned. Because women are often the minority in STEM, we tend to feel we don’t belong. I felt this for a long time. I didn’t feel I was in the right place because I was surrounded by men, and it felt lonely.’
How can diversity in STEM be improved, in your opinion?
‘Improving diversity in STEM requires action from multiple stakeholders. It begins with parents, who shape children’s interests through the toys and encouragement they provide. Teachers also play a critical role by putting their biases aside and giving feedback based on skills and results rather than stereotypes. Finally, governments can support women by offering for example scholarships specifically for girls in STEM. When all these factors work together, girls are more likely to consider and pursue STEM careers.’
After completing your engineering degree in Poland, why did you choose to continue your studies at VU Amsterdam?
‘During my bachelor’s programme, I did an Erasmus internship at Alliander, a Dutch network company responsible for energy supply in the Netherlands. I wrote my graduation thesis on optimising machinery for renewable energy systems and continued working at Alliander developing solutions for the renewable energy sector. While working in this field, I realised that climate change is often approached purely from a technical perspective. I wanted to gain a more holistic understanding that also included economic, governance and behavioural aspects, which is what the VU master’s programme offered.’
What have you been doing since you graduated from VU?
‘I graduated from VU in October 2024 with a Master’s in Environment and Resource Management, with a specialisation in Energy and Climate. I’m currently working as an innovation engineer, designing maritime robots that survey the seabed. Before building a wind farm in the North Sea, for example, you need to know what lies beneath the surface. The machinery used for this is what I design. I’m now combining my background in renewable energy with robotics in offshore renewable energy development.
Alongside this, I’m part of the Delegation to the European Green Party, which is committed to achieving green goals in Europe. I recently wrote a resolution aimed at reinforcing the European workforce by upskilling and reskilling people so their skills better align with climate mitigation and adaptation needs.’
You recently won the Offshore Energy Young Professional Award. Why did you receive the award?
‘Yes, I felt incredibly honoured. I received it because of my leadership potential in the offshore energy sector and my commitment to advancing new technologies. I also want to contribute to making the sector more diverse. Currently, only about 7 percent of technical roles are held by women. My personal goal is to help increase this to at least 40 percent.’
Change can take a long time. Do you think you will witness more diversity in STEM during your career?
‘I really hope it happens while I'm alive. It might not and I have accepted that. But it is already a win for me if I can be part of the fight for change and see future generations benefit from it. In the coming years, I want to advocate more in Nigeria and across Africa to break the barriers women and girls face. I grew up without a role model. I hope I can be one for others, because when girls see someone like them succeeding, they are more likely to pursue a career in STEM.’
