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Olakito Olatunde
BSc Biological Sciences
Kito is not someone to do things by halves. In 2002 she moved to the UK from Nigeria, the same year she embarked on her degree in Biological Sciences at Birkbeck; during her course she got married and had a baby.
'I had an African diploma as a lab technician, but I knew that would only take me so far in the UK. As a foreign student I couldn't get funding anywhere, so Birkbeck was the only place for me, as I could work and pay my fees in monthly instalments.'
In her first year Kito (30) worked as a lab assistant. 'When I started my course I was making £12,000; after just one year, I was able to use my newly acquired knowledge to get a job as a genetic technologist – increasing my salary by £5,000. So the course paid for itself within the first year!'
'To say Birkbeck is excellent is an understatement; I will never forget how they helped me. The College provided help to pay for my travel and when I was heavily pregnant in my third year final exams, the staff were so supportive and encouraging to help me to finish the course, I really can't say enough good things about them.'
