24, May 2017, Bath University, Bath, England.
The last time I was a student in Botswana, my home country, was in 1999 when I was a Form 5 pupil. My siblings, Molly le Nkgotla, went on to study at the University of Botswana: a black lecturer, professor, and the like are the norm to them.
On the other hand, I went to Midrand Graduate Institute, in South Africa. From the time of my life at MGI, I only had 1, I repeat, 1 black lecturer. At the Robert Gordon University, in Scotland, there were a couple of black lecturers, but I only had 1 black guest lecturer in my memorable year at RGU. Of course, a special shoutout to the great Dr Ahmed Beloucif, “Arab”, from Algeria, my Referee.
Dr Nelson Oppong, black African, from Ghana, an Oxford graduate (I hear they call themselves Oxonians), is my lecturer for the Natural Resources and Sustainability module. To see him in the university corridors, cafeterias, and classes: is an inspiration, a reassurance and perhaps, a validation to black boys, such as myself.
Therefore, what I can only hope to achieve in this life, is for me to pass the baton – that Nelson handed to me – to other black boys.
Blessing Kgosi e tsile Kgasa 