She learned to be strong and determined where war teaches you to never give up hope. Today , Okumu Achayo Vicky Lagu , born and raised in South Sudan, has graduated in Business Administration from the University of Cagliari, a goal that, she says, seemed impossible until a few years ago.

"I was born and raised in South Sudan. Growing up amidst conflict and adversity taught me resilience, faith in God, and perseverance," she says. "Despite the loss of people very dear to me and the many challenges I've faced, I've never stopped believing in a better future."

That future slowly took shape in Cagliari, but not without obstacles. "When I arrived, I faced health problems and language barriers," she recalls. "At times, I thought about giving up, but the University of Cagliari was very supportive." The Safe/Unimed project played a decisive role, she emphasizes: "It changed my story, my life, and my path. I never hoped to achieve this level of education, yet here I am today."

Her master's thesis analyzes the development of artificial intelligence in African corporate finance , with a focus on Nigeria and Kenya. "I wanted to understand what allows banks to derive concrete value from AI and whether there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate a return on investment," she explains.

She completed her internship at the Natural Power cooperative. Outside of college, her passion is music. She sings in the "Laeti Cantorous" choir and enjoys performing in small concerts. "Singing for the elderly in a nursing home touched my heart," she says, "and strengthened my desire to give back to society, because music is my strength."

She has clear ideas for the future: "Work to help others, just as others have helped me." She sums it up with a quote from Martin Luther King Jr.: "The most insistent and urgent question in life is: what are you doing for others?" She then offers a final thank you: "I am deeply grateful to the University of Cagliari, to everyone who welcomed and supported me, and to the Natural Power cooperative. I sincerely thank everyone who has been a part of my journey."

(Unioneonline)

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