Wendy Okolo: How I became an aerospace engineer at NASA - Gist Nigeria

Growing up, Wendy Okolo always dreamed of being an engineer, and she worked HARD to make that dream a reality.
Today she is an aerospace engineer at the at the Intelligent Systems Division, NASA. Yes, that NASA.
About Gist Nigeria:
Gist Nigeria is a 30-minute current affairs programme, co-produced by the BBC and Channels Television for viewers in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Liberia. The program offers in-depth reporting, focusing on stories behind the news and their impact on its audience.
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[@wanzetse]

Damn! I have such dreams and seeing a black african woman there is so inspiring. Thank you.

[@mikelelvis4969]

Same

[@madyjules06]

Everything Wendy said is so true… you have to want to succeed & put the work & study time in! Please don’t fall for the “genius fallacy” : a person can be “gifted” but if they don’t put the effort in they will not realize their career dreams. Thank you for sharing this with the world, Wendy, you’re an inspiration!!

[@JohnPaul-hs5os]

She is living proof you can be a genius and beautiful and cool it dont get better than her

[@alexnguyen6518]

Omg I'm majoring in aerospace engineering at UT Arlington right now. Seeing that she went there is so exciting!!!

[@Josh.V]

Is it really that hard to be an aerospace engineer??

[@adityamvsn2424]

@@Josh.V if you love it you can do it

[@yashprajapati70]

@Alex Nguyen are you an international student or in contact with any majoring in aerospace, I've heard there's very less jobs available for them so can you tell me the situation of them, it would really help in deciding my major. Thank you

[@eks_0]

@@Josh.V depends, if you're good at math and physics then its easy, if you struggle with it then its not tmgoing to be easy but yiu can push through.

[@drakebrown9622]

Always remember if there is no one out their representing you in these fields, you can always be the first

[@uchennaobikwelu2534]

Inspiring 🥺🥺🥺. Started my first year Aerospace engineering at Carleton 3 days ago and honestly it's difficult to adapt because the Nigerian system of education, syllabus specifically(especially in terms of mathematics and physics) is so different compared to Canadian own. It's my dream to become a NASA engineer someday 🥺. Don't know exactly how to go about it but I will make it💪. I will be coming here to give updates ✌❤

[@catsandstrawberryboba1424]

How's you're experience been like so far?

[@ihenachorvalerie7229]

I guess that makes the two of us . I’m in AFIT and it’s feeling so depressing we haven’t done anything practical related

[@Egee111]

do you wanna give some uptade ?

[@clarkanthonygabon5127]

I believe that Nigerian are good engineers they are brilliant.

[@soughtoutjoseph4406]

Your right

[@DeathDealer2025]

Yes.

[@alEx-ue4rm]

sorry to note that mostly indians

[@bobilondon01]

@@judesyle5687 whats biafran?

[@fokjohnpainkiller]

Delusional

[@drewm9660]

Brains, Beauty, yeah girl!. You got the music in you!

[@TM-kh7el]

The “you have to want it” part is 💯 true

[@okeziechristopher9479]

She got swag love her🤗💕

[@MimicoBungalow]

... that's the word I was looking for 'SWAG' She's got it in spades!

[@itzdampsandwich6383]

I’m in my final year of Aerospace engineering, i wish i was still as enthusiastic as this woman ):

[@TheStylishMan78681]

I really motivated and am done that one am become world greatest aeronautical engineer انشاءاللہ تعالیٰ

[@zaraadamson6803]

Thank you so much your video is so inspiring. ❤️ From another girl taking STEM (Mechanical Engineering); I wish to transition into Aerospace soon. 🤞🏾❤️ Thank you for showing me what I have to do and bringing my drive back.

[@tas_araf]

She is gorgeous my god

[@May04bwu]

This is beautiful. I'm so happy for her!

[@ADE-of-LAGOS]

She gotta return to her high school some day to give a speech that will inspire the next generation. Sadly a lot of the brilliant ones are being lost to the West. Seems it's never ending.

[@nataliayepez-rondon5843]

OMG! these kind of women inspire me so much!!!

[@neema_]

I Stan for Black girl magic👌🏼👌🏼

[@namibianamibia1138]

I stand for magic no matter the skin color

[@Rifyy]

@@namibianamibia1138 yeah

[@ayhamnaseb2814]

The cooler is not the important thing, but the important thing that we are all a human. 💕

[@bradymartin8400]

It’s not magic and her skin doesn’t matter it’s genuine knowledge

[@Tunerule]

It's Nigeria magic. We always stand out anywhere in the world

[@samueldokowe]

Let me get this right, she's Nigerian with no Nigerian accent? Glad she's living her dream.

[@francoisosamor3290]

she went to queens college YABA

[@notorious202]

Her accent is obviously there. She doesn't have to sound local

[@vybzkartelradio.]

😆😆😆

[@vybzkartelradio.]

It's there but what you said was funny lol

[@ADE-of-LAGOS]

Obviously she left Nigeria when she was a teenager to start college. At such age, one could lose one's native accent. And obviously she also knew she had to adapt to life in another society. Sadly, speaking in local accent of host country wins acceptance. Brutal truth.

[@adeyinkasotunde6870]

I love every bit of her. This is brilliance.

[@Danny-fs1hk]

Extremely intelligent and beautiful. A great segment. Thanks

[@JohnPaul-hs5os]

She is the perfect woman super smart dark.skin and super beautiful

[@aaronoluoch4510]

Proud of you sis 🇰🇪🇳🇬

[@laibanoor93]

I did not this video could be emotional😭. I love it.

[@clairen332]

Amazing stuff, go girl so inspiring

[@olaoluwaokewole1615]

Wish you greater and greater heights 👏 👏 👏 This should continue going viral, so females can see what's possible. Kudos to the Mom too, who helped prevent "the dream that died on the way to adulthood" syndrome - paraphrasing Bishop.T.D.Jakes.

[@danielwoode8955]

9ja 👏😊😊own Wendy okolo great engineer

[@sandratimothy1500]

I celebrate you dear sis. You've mad us proud. We all are great ❤

[@precious14stones]

I'm inspired I really admire her passion

[@beaete]

So good! Proud doesn't even come close.

[@tybargky3554]

Who could DISLIKE this?!?!?! what is wrong with you !?!

[@muthumalee]

One word i hv to say...amazing ❤️❤️...

[@mariannehappiness2227]

WOW You Are AMAZING ,CONGRATS.Very Well Done💛🙏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@barefootdesigns]

Whoohoo! You go Girl!

[@tonyadj6994]

MOTHER AFRICAN BRAIN ...THE ORIGIN OF EVERYTHING AROUND YOU.....

[@jamesbrean8004]

Aerospace and space exploration is the future

[@Femimexican]

Awesome feat, bravo!

[@kariuki6644]

please do more like these! very inspiring!

[@ruthpwajok4952]

She is a motivational speaker 😚😊😊😚

[@benjaminodamtten8605]

you make your country proud indeed bravo

[@mikegitau4164]

One Word........"WOW" ~~

[@omo-obaaarinade]

You're awesome girl ....the sky is just your begining..! ♥️♥️♥️ Well done...greater heights!

[@babe3736]

She's so pretty

[@IshaanRastogi29]

Everything's just so cool about her !

[@nkondespov]

Soo inspiring

[@enochantwi9137]

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS

[@marcinafaithalbert6841]

Go girl

[@open_commons3520]

Hats off!!

[@obedtari8390]

Go Nigeria gooooo

[@xpnn]

Wow. I love to see it

[@inspiretosmile]

✨💜✨ inspired!

[@mikelelvis4969]

Am truly motivated

[@JohnPaul-hs5os]

Nigerians are geniuses

[@MrDwrica]

Awesome...Wendy

[@masikodarlington1104]

you are such an inspiring story. thank you

[@antoinettelawanson4142]

Yes yam is.the best

[@kourtneyalbert2937]

Love it ❤

[@KutloanoLetsebe]

Inspiring 😢I want to be Nasa astronaut 😢but am not a citizen thank you for motivation

[@musamoloi2149]

🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼inspired😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@theluckg]

Awesome

[@JohnPaul-hs5os]

As a african american male she is my idol damn Beyonce Rihanna i love love a smart super smart beautiful dark skin woman

[@ratu2880]

she just inspired me lol

[@larrykly9544]

Greatness 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🔥🔥🔥

[@nursekhita2547]

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 yes!!

[@adesubomiadegbite]

Inspiring!

[@willyanene3798]

This is my Daughter’s dream, I don’t know how she came about that, although we are from Igbo clan , my parents also told me to leave her because in her first world she was a woman of wonders. Well my dear I best don’t give up

[@ernestmwape]

Very inspiring

[@aster5031]

10/10

[@ElevateResumeDesign]

Bravo happy for you

[@chariocetv8067]

Okkkkk why she is sooo beautiful ❤️

[@janiedennis1850]

✊🏼

[@kindnessnye9871]

i`m an aspiring aerospace engineer though still on petroluem engineering now, how do i go about it?

[@iminsideyourwalls9432]

Go for aerospace,petroleum and gas industry will be dead in the future

[@alexanderbendall]

Petroleum engineering is going to die in the next couple of decades

[@eks_0]

@@alexanderbendall that's actually false info

[@SpaceFactsWax]

Thank you for sharing. I got the chance to view a rocket launch in 2018. Memorable experience. I uploaded a pretty cool video of the trip to my page.

[@JohnPaul-hs5os]

Nigerians are the smartest people in the world

[@beervijitkajee7976]

So bad ass

[@JohnPaul-hs5os]

Nigerians rule the world

[@CultureKingVisual]

coversistemi🎉

[@MasterTSayge]

women are better listeners and studiers than we men are. Simple as that. Todays Public Schools don't cater to male learning. Best way to teach boys is by hands-on learning, sadly our schools don't promote it.

[@abdulahm.kenneh4777]

I am just a beginner in airspace engineering.

[@avisiktachakraborty3438]

Aircraft and space

[@saltoftheearth.8200]

🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@lzgbonesy4090]

That fact that people have to say I’m proud of a BLACK WOMEN to be an engineer sucks

[@eks_0]

Not even just that, women in general as well. Very few in the STEM field. Like 90% male almost

[@barabaraparts]

question.... where do you get the money to study that career?? I think such an important part of the story.... cause expensive careerrs...dont pay by them self... but nice edition ... im sure that revealing that... the story wouldnt be that awesome...still she is super smart !! without a doubt.

[@williamw6709]

If you work really hard, there are plenty of funding opportunities (at least in the US). This will vary from college to college, and depend on the level of education you are pursuing, but if you work hard to distinguish yourself and make sure someone notices, you can get some really neat scholarships.

[@ChrisBTommy]

her parents should be very rich, she said she schooled as queens college, the most pretigous school in nigeria and where are house is Vi(victorian island ) the most expensive housing in nigeria

[@ADE-of-LAGOS]

@@ChrisBTommy Queen college can't be the most prestigious (female) secondary school in Nigeria. That was back in the days. Yes, the standard is high and it's still a school for high to middle class kids.

[@bigevil1001]

The Brain Drain Documentary

[@tobechukwuemeruem2799]

I will be like her people remember my name and when I said this I will be great😤

[@kateobire287]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@MimicoBungalow]

...you know, your HAIR is a feat of engineering! Braids, extensions, etc. all of these require engineering skill. It took me most of my adult life to understand how such astounding hair creations are manufactured, and made. Congratulations on being an engineer! Oh, and I learned fairly early on in my life never to speak to a black woman about her hair. Nevertheless, it's lovely!

[@georgemwidima3851]

Kila la Heri!

[@ballwood12345]

😍

[@lifereveals]

What would you say to ppl who don't believe in NASA? Not real or false reality to it's achievements of moon landing, etc and with Africa now joining NASA what purpose does this truly serve. ...

[@nihatsavmaz6677]

i fell in love with you lady okolo....but i am not going to leave my family and wive for you... or maybe i will.

[@islandbreeze1352]

Nigerians are smarter than most other black nationalities...harder working ,they dont sit on their bum blaming the system...

[@ADE-of-LAGOS]

Umm! As a Nigerian myself, that's an incorrect comment. The main difference is that people are just motivated. And another reason it seem so is because a lot of Nigerians from the southern part of the country found out that Nigeria as a country does not meet their career expectations. So, on average, more Nigerians, as the most populated country in Africa, end up in Western countries than any other country in Africa. But it's getting the country nowhere as the West benefits from an investment it didn't make.

[@bigevil1001]

Too bad all that intelligence and hard work couldn't elevate Nigeria.

[@rodh3489]

@@bigevil1001 right😂

[@duncanchizizi6543]

@@ADE-of-LAGOS brain drain. Nigerian leaders are busy with stocking money from taxes

[@Slick_Slimey_Roiii]

🎓📚👋

[@Atrisha.m]

What qualified you to do this engineering......?

[@AkwaIbomDoll]

Probably high grades in physics, chemistry, and Biology in High school

[@ejegbavworuemu2129]

​@@AkwaIbomDoll I would emphasize Maths, Further Maths and Physics

[@twalibgumbo1404]

💙🤾

[@wisdomkunutsor3726]

I can supply your favorite yam, anyway 😂

[@chisaraawazie8162]

God bless you.