Three voices from West Africa – one vision for sustainable energy

What brings young scientists from West Africa to Forschungszentrum Jülich? For Kouroumlakiwé Yoma, Abdallah Kezire, and Mohamed Issifi Yacouba the answer is clear: they want their research to help shape the energy future of their home region – sustainably and fairly.

All three came to Jülich through the International Master’s Programme in Energy and Green Hydrogen (IMP-EGH). Today, they are pursuing their doctoral degrees here, in a research environment that combines excellent scientific infrastructures infrastructure with international networking and social relevance. Their topics: photovoltaics, green hydrogen, and energy system analysis.

In three video portraits, they talk about their experiences as doctoral researchers at Forschungszentrum Jülich, provide insights into their research projects, and explain their motivation to put the knowledge they have gained to use in West Africa in the long term.

Kouroumlakiwé Yoma

For Kouroumlakiwé Yoma, doctoral researcher at the Institute of Energy Materials and Devices - Photovoltaics (IMD-3), science is more than a career – it’s a mission. Growing up in a country where 40% of the population has no access to electricity, he set out to change that through renewable energy. He talks about his journey and how he is experiencing the doctorate in Jülich.

Note: You can also watch the video with German subtitles by accessing the German-language website.

Abdallah Kezire

Abdallah Kezire, doctoral researcher at the Institute of Energy Technologies - Theory and Computation of Energy Materials (IET-3) shares his journey from studying electrical engineering to working on hydrogen fuel cells at Forschungszentrum Jülich. He talks about improving fuel cell performance, the challenges and rewards of science, and adapting to life in Germany. Along the way, he reflects on teamwork, cultural differences, and offers advice for students planning to study abroad.

Mohamed Issifi Yacouba

Even during his bachelor's studies, Mohamed Issifi Yacouba dreamed of generating electricity from sunlight. Today, he is conducting research at the Institute of Energy Materials and Devices - Photovoltaics (IMD-3) on a pioneering alternative to silver in solar cells.In this video, he explains why copper plays such an important role, what excites him about his life as a doctoral student, and why Jülich is the ideal research location for him.