Life Lessons: Through His Studies at Beijing Normal University, Tony Tope Igbekele Dreams Big

This post is sponsored by the Beijing Normal University School of Social Development and Public Policy, an international program comprised of students and faculty from around the world. Visit www.ssdpp.net.cn/en to find out more.
 

“[I want] to do everything possible to be the best in order to give the best to humankind,” Tony Tope Igbekele states on his resume – a lofty ambition that might raise a recruiter’s eyebrow at first glance. But upon meeting and talking with the articulate 33-year-old Nigerian, you might just very well be convinced that this is a man who will achieve great things in life. Indeed, Tony already has an impressive educational and professional background, which includes a B.S. in Biochemistry and running the Students Economic Development Initiative, a social development organization he founded in 2009. Now in the final stretch of studying for a Master’s in Management of Social Policy at Beijing Normal University’s School of Social Development and Public Policy, Tony took time out of his busy schedule to share some insights on the program, life as an African student in Beijing and what he hopes to accomplish in his academic and professional career.

You have an academic background in biochemistry. How did this experience help shape your current major in social policy?
I was in a meeting about three or four days ago and a representative of the United Nations came from Latin America. And by the way of background, she did biochemistry, from biochemistry she went to another scientific field, then she went to economics and now she’s working on development. What that shows to me is that when you talk about policies, policy is in every field and to be scientific minded when you start you career could help you because it makes you think critically. 

What is the subject of your Master’s thesis?
It’s about Nigerian students in Beijing – it’s all about how they are coping and the ways that they are adapting to the environment. There was a course we had on immigration and we were talking about immigration policies, development. So from that I started thinking, what can I do? Let me look at the African students in China. That would be too big – I had to streamline it to my country. 

What else have you learned studying in the program here in China?
What I’ve discovered is that the immigration policy in China does not encourage people to live in China. When you’re coming to China you’re not expected to live long [here]. The system is not created for you to live long [here]. The system is created for them to expunge you. 

China is in a level where innovation is needed. Although the government is trying to create local national innovation so the organizations could own the patent rights. Because if you look at most countries, they are actually changing their policy. Let’s compare to Japan, Japan has a mono-cultural environment and Japan has been having problems for a long time because they did not allow foreigners to integrate into their country. And, unfortunately for them, Japanese are trying to leave the country. So if China continues that way and believes that, we have the population. [But] you just need one foreigner or one immigrant that could propel [the economy]. And unfortunately for China, [when] their nationals are doing quite well, they [tend to] leave the country after they reach the line of 100 million dollars. So the people that you’ve even been grooming locally for innovation are looking [to get] out of the country and the people that are interested in your country are being blocked [from staying]. 

Did you have an interest in Chinese culture, society or history back home?
Unfortunately, the image of China is not too good in my country. Because we see, it might not necessarily be political, it’s just about the products they bring down to my country, the products are inferior, so when you mention China back home, people think it’s cheap, so you don't really have a true measure of what China is. In my country, when you talk about Chinese or China in my country, you will say inferior. Because most of the people that they’ve brought, you discover that you are more well off than them. The products they are bringing, they are not up to standard. 

What’s one contribution you would like to make to China or one thing that you would change if you really could? You said on your resume that one of your goals is to make a difference to all of humanity. 
I think one of the things that’s heavily lacking in China is trust. I don’t think Chinese people trust themselves enough to even trust the system and enough to accommodate people. I also discovered that Chinese people don’t trust their system. I think there’s no way a country can develop if people don’t trust the system. Even though they feel that they may not trust their government, they still need to support their government. [So] If I were to change one thing I would talk about trust, trusting each other, trusting the government system. I’m not saying that you should accept everything that the government is doing, but you should try as much as possible to trust your government. [Every] time you talk to Chinese they tell you it’s cultural, but I do not think there’s anything cultural in trying not to trust you. There’s no way society can work without trust. 

I came from Africa where we have this kind of nuclear family. There are some places I could get to and be accommodated just because I’m black, or because I’m a Nigerian. I don’t know if that’s done in China, because I’m in urban China, I’m not in rural China, which I don’t know [anything about].

How do you feel as a foreigner in China, fitting in overall to society, do you accepted do you feel rejected do you feel like your floating on top of society?
[For one] I’m a black guy in China. They make me feel black, that’s how I know that I’m black. [But to quote an unknown source]: “The only way stereotypes can be reduced is when people travel.”

What about yourself, what will you do after your studies?
Actually, I’m interested in staying in China for the next three or four years because I want to see the power play and the international development. I want to be at the eye of the storm.

Photos: Courtesy of Beijing Normal University