MEET YOUR FULBRIGHTER
Inspiring Leadership: Regis Koumba‘s story
Regis Koumba (30) is from Congo Brazzaville, also called Republic of Congo. He studied for his undergraduate degree in ‘Agriculture Extension and Education’ at Alexandria University in Egypt. The Congolese explains that this involves ‘Education in the field of Agriculture’, specifically educating farmers, to help them to adapt to change and new technologies. Koumba is now at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville (Arkansas), under a Fulbright scholarship, studying for his MA in Agricultural Economics and AgriBusiness. He selected this course specifically because it aligns with his vision for his country, which is to help reprioritize the agriculture industry. Koumba says back in the 60’s, agriculture was a prioritized area of development in Brazzaville, before the discovery of Oil.
Lately, he observes that such is the focus on oil, that despite having rich and fertile agricultural land, the World Bank says Brazzaville has only managed to utilize 2% of its land for agricultural production. “Everybody jumped on the oil bandwagon to the point where now the average person on the street does not realize the importance of the agriculture sector. It is not a priority,” says Koumba, who was an intern at the US Embassy, in Brazzaville prior to leaving for the USA. The budding economist has elected a non-thesis, job orientated Masters program, to enable him to gain practical work experience. Koumba talks about the need to be ‘exposed’ while in the USA and looking for new and innovative ways to boost agriculture development in his community.
One such idea, that he hopes to replicate back home is Aquaponics; he explains this as ‘ecofriendly fish farming’, a process that he says allows for the fish faeces to be re-used as nutrient fertilizer for plants. What he appreciates most about this type of fish farming is that it can be applied to the masses in his home country, particularly women. He believes with such projects women are empowered and in extension the rest of the community. Koumba’s inspiration, apart from agri-economics lies in serving and developing people, hence the reason he is set on establishing his own non-profit entity that he has already named the ‘Leadership Discovery Foundation’. “As the name implies it’s about helping people from all walks of life to discover their true potential and purpose in life. We all have God-given gifts that need to be explored. I remember a quote from one of my idols, Myles Monroe, who said that, ‘A leader is born when purpose is discovered,” says Koumba. Aside from providing leadership skills and professional training, the NGO will also deal with societal concerns. In this light he wants to advocate for matters like discrimination of Albino’s. “I also want to help change perceptions about standing stereotypes in our community’s as well,” adds Koumba. The NGO will also provide both leadership skills and training for professional and educational skills.
In September 2016, Koumba was nominated by a 12 member Fulbright panel, a panel chosen by the US President. As a result, he travelled to Washington DC, to attend a ‘Our Ocean, One Future Leadership Summit’. At the gathering, he got the opportunity to rub shoulders with leaders such as President of COP21 and also French Minister of Environment, Energy and Marine Affairs, Madam Segolene Royal and US Secretary of State, John F. Kerry. Koumba is honored for having gained this opportunity to be in the presence of such esteemed world leaders and he motivates his peers back in Brazzaville that, “For as long as you are alive, there is a reason for your creation, you are not an accident. As such you must find and fulfill your purpose in life.”
By: Boitshepo Balozwi