Q: Please tell us about yourself
My name is Engr. Felicia Nnenna Agubata PhD.
A 1997 graduate of Computer Science and Engineering. I have a doctorate degree in engineering and I am EMPLOYED in the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, an Air Navigation Service Provider. Currently, I am the Deputy General Manager Terrestrial services at the agency. The agency is saddled with the maintenance and installation of communication facilities.
I am as well the vice president corporate services of Nigerian Society of Engineers.

I have a Masters Degree in Electrical Electronic Engineering a Doctorate in Computer Engineering.
I'm a gender and dream gap advocate.
I was the 15th President of APWEN (2018-2019).
Furthermore, I am an engineering Tube icon courtesy of Transport Federation of London and Royal Academy of Engineering UK.
I was among the 274 global engineers that were recognized on November 1st 2023. We were part of the engineers named after the London Metropolitan Piccadilly Line. Specifically, Ryaners station was renamed after me in celebration of the National Engineering day.
I'm a dream and gender gap advocate very passionate about Girl - child education and women empowerment.
At community service level, I hold position of the President of Enugwu- Ukwu Community development union.

Q: What are your biggest strengths and what are your biggest weaknesses
For strengths, we can look at team work and collaboration as well as critical thinking skills.
Furthermore, communication, (oral and written) is my strong point.
I have also demonstrated strength in technical systems (communication engineering). My problem solving skill or else disposition can be counted as good.
I am comfortable with crunching numbers.
Some of these strengths are natural and somewhat effortless while some are cultivated.
My major weakness is that I am very impatient with poor results. I am sometimes hard on myself especially when results are not good enough.
In such situations, I push myself to breaking point in a bid to drive improvements.
This is definitely a weakness I have tried to overcome without success.
Q: What is your typical day like now
Today, the situation is different and the responsibilities heavier and time sensitive.
I plan my schedules ahead.
I proritize and assign weights to various issues on my in-box.
I create hourly schedule for what has to be done by the team as well as what I need to do personally.
I delegate, follow up and follow through.
I also take particular note of pre-scheduled meetings and ensure attendance or else assign staffers to attend.
Q: How did you start your day when you first started at work
May I start by confessing that I loved my work place before I stepped my feet on the facility as an employee.
Consequently, from the first days, I devoted myself to timely resumption, observing the environment studying the files available to me and appreciating the structures and methods.
I also analyzed what 'constitutes' work, end to end ie in-puts, processes and out puts.
It did not take me much time to align myself to the daily demands of the job and the rigours of continuous training as expected of me as at that entry point as a trainee.
The point here is that in the beginning, I was not saddled with much personal responsibilities hence I lent myself to team engagements, learning and training.
These prepared me for what was to come.

Q: How was your early life growing up, your days as a teenager
My early life was regular and very much like that of my contemporaries.
Things were actually hard and poverty rife, but because most people were facing the exact challenges one was facing, nobody felt negative emotions.
Of course there were a few kids who were well off. But it did not just matter.
I am grateful to my parents for steering me through those early days and for giving the opportunity to be educated at a time when the central tendency was to deny the girl-child the opportunity to pursue her dreams.

Q: What made you choose to be in the career you are in today
I am very numerate. I have a knack for finding repeatable solutions and I am methodical.
Engineering is both natural and logical for me.
I also believe that I can thrive in other science disciplines including medicine and pharmacy, surveying, geology, mathematics or else STEM subjects really.
Did the degree you read help
Yes, of course. I practice what I read and I am happy doing so. It is indeed a priviledge I do not take lightly.

Q: Did the degree you did in school directly help you with your chosen career
Oh, of course! I majored in the work I'm doing, so I'm happy doing it. For me, I believe that, it's a privilege and I don't take it lightly. It's a privilege that I'm in this field. I will say, thanks to my parents who ensured that I went to school.

Q: DO YOU SEE IT AS WORK or else IT JUST COMES NATURALLY?

Yeah, you know, when you look at where you work, things that you've done, the kind of training that you've been exposed to, I've gone round the world through my job. So I'd say, it's a privilege. I've been surrounded with good people, who encourage you to do better than yesterday. It's about team work and collaboration. It's about working with the right people, having the right mindset. These are part of the things that make you feel good in your job, feel okay with what you're doing and look forward to more challenges in the future.

Q: What was your first job
A: I worked as a sales engineer at a computer company. I was into selling of computer systems and spare parts then.
Q: What was it like getting your first salary pay cheque
A: Just like people would say, you just have to make sure you buy something for your parents. It was exciting. The most important thing is I leave home in the morning and come back, and at the end of the month, I'm accountable to someone. Work place was another place that I have superiors that shaped my life in a very positive form.
Q: Did you have a mentor in your early days at work
A: At work? Yes. I have a lot of them. There are different mentors for different aspects. I have a mentors who taught me what being on time is all about. I have another mentor who taught me what it means to be a female engineer, to stand my ground as an efficient and competent engineer. They ensured I was guided and guarded. Nobody gets to anywhere without mentors, because these are people who will tell you what you will not like to hear. Somebody will be telling you that mistake is the best teacher . It's not any best teacher. You can avoid them. Coaching is different from mentorship . In mentorship, there are no hold backs. Coaching is when a person wants to help build your career. There's also reverse mentoring, whereby your mentor are now the ones mentioning you, in some other aspects, so it's a win-win. It's both ways.
Q: How do your balance your work and your life
A: Healthy work/life balance is a critical factor for every career person.
Essentially, this means the ability to 'give unto Caesar what is Caesar and to God, what is God's own' in a manner of speaking.
We must strike a balance between work and other life's choices including pleasurable family experiences, socialization and indeed relationships.

Q: How do you manage stress
A: Truth is stress is a fact of life. Some can even argue that without stress, life will be boring from both the physical and mental side of things.
Be that as it may, I personally manage stress by being positive. I look at the bright side of life without ignoring the flip side. In every situation, I motivate myself to acknowledge the stressors and thereafter use my attitude to proactively blunt them. This helps me to improve my threshold for stress tolerance and consequently to endure things that can't be helped.
At a very ordinary level, I also take 5 deep breaths on encountering stressors. This helps me to deal with stress.
I also listen to my body to know how it is responding to stressful conditions in order to moderate it or else reduce a feeling of anxiety to the barest minimum.

Q: What are your hobbies
A: I like reading, travelling and meeting people.
Q: What is your ideal vacation
A: America. Florida to be precise.
Q: Your favorite food, dessert and Snack
A: I like Jollof rice and plantains. I like meat pie.
Q: How about when you were young, have they changed a lot
A: When I was younger, as one grows up, reality sets. Before, I think money grows everywhere, the reality is that, you have to work for money. You have to plan for the future. You must have integrity, skill and humility. Despite all your money, if you don't integrity, honesty and fear of God, you're nothing.
Q: Your favorite place in the world outside Nigeria
A: Florida America
Q: How did you meet your Spouse
A: I met him when I was on my one year industrial training, after going to the polytechnic. It was love at first sight for him, but it took me time to know him. I'm very grateful to God that he came my way. I couldn't have asked for a better spouse.
Q: How many children do you have
A: I have two children , twins, a boy and a girl.
Q: Did you want more
A: I'm done.

***DID YOU AT ANY POINT IN TIME WANT MORE? +++
No. We waited on the lord for eight years. So when they came, we were grateful. We asked for one, and he gave us two. He gave us boy and a girl, so what are we asking for again. He has answered our prayers, it's now left to us to raise them in the knowledge of God.

Q: Did any of them follow in your footsteps, career wise
A: No. One of them is reading medicine. They're both in 400L, the girl is reading medicine, while the boy is studying law. He wanted to study engineering but got influenced by his classmates to study law, since they said he argues a lot. We must have open mind with our kids, guide them to ensure that they don't derail.
Q: What experiences have you had in your life that you’d say have shaped you to be the person you are today
A: When I won the Royal Academic of Engineering grant, UK. I won two times.
Q: What one thing do wish you could go back in time and do all over again
A: I'm just full of gratitude to God. The only thing I can say I'll do again is to marry my husband again and come from the same family I come from. I won't trade my family for any other thing.
Q: What are the best qualities you look for in people
A: Honesty, integrity, humility
Q: How is your relationship with God
A: I believe in God. I'm a practicing Christian. I believe He is the author and finisher of our faith.
Q: If you could pick 3 people to have a conversation with either living or dead, who would they be
A: I would say Dr Okonjo Eweala for her resilience , strength and integrity.
Then I'll look at Tony Elumelu for his life of impact and resilience.
The third person is Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his Resilience and character

Q: Beef or Chicken or Fish
A: Chicken
Q: Hot or Cold weather
A: I prefer cold weather. I don't like to sweat.
Q: Morning, Afternoon or Night
A: I don't have a favourite time. Anytime is good.
Q: Sweet or spicy foods
A: Spicy
Q: Read, Watch TV or Listen to music to relax
A: I prefer to watch TV
Q: Iphone or Android
A: iPhone. I like the features
Q: Native, Formal or Casual clothes
A: Native
Q: Window seat or aisle on a plane
A: Oh! Windows! (laughs)
Q: Going out or staying home
A: Going out

Q: Please can you give us 3 people that we can interviews as well
A: Engr Aramide Adeyoye (Former S A works and Technological Development Lagos state) Engr Comfort Afela (Works with Chevron) Engr John Audu (Works with Chevron)
Q: Please can you give some advice to the young people coming behind you
A: They should do the best they can, adhere strictly to the rules, no shortcuts. They should ensure they follow due process, acquire the necessary skills that is required for tomorrow's job, today. It's not just about the pay cheques, it's about the structure of the job. They should make use of mentorship platforms. You are the only one that can limit yourself. Be the best you can and above all, have the fear of God. Work hard, work smart!