Mahamane Seydou Serki is chair of the Martin Luther King Jr. English Club of Abdou Moumouni University and president of the English Language Club of Niger. In both clubs, he helps people learn, improve, and share their English language skills and experiences. Mahamane is committed to helping people improve their lives. In addition to his passion for languages, he is a skilled chef who wants to share his enthusiasm and know-how; for a year, he improved his cooking skills by working in a five-star restaurant in Niamey City. Later, he was able to apply those skills in the canteen of a local school, where he earned money to finance his education. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Language, Literature, and Civilizations from Abdou Moumouni University. On completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, he hopes to open a center to teach youth and students in his community cooking, English language, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills.

What do you do in your home country and what do you hope to do upon completion of your Fellowship? In particular, with the integration of your experiences with Drexel University

I run English Language Clubs in order to help people use their English Effectively despite all learning challenges they face. I also work as part time Cook in order to be financially independent. Upon completion of my fellowship I hope to open a learning Center for English language and for Cooking. With the integration of my experiences with Drexel University I hope to hone personality development skills such Leadership, Public speaking, management, cooking and more in order to effectively apply them in my field of work in my community. I also hope to create English speaking networks for English Language learners from different fields in my community.

What is your favorite thing about your home country?

Hospitality and solidarity of my community members is my favorite thing about my home country. And one can feel it from the daily routines in my community.

What are you most excited about learning about Philadelphia?

What I am most excited about learning about Philadelphia is the fact it the birth place of Independence of the United States.

Do you have any hobbies or an interesting fact you wish to share about yourself?

I love discussing topics of personal and community development, I also love sharing about cooking.

If I were to come to your home country, what is the first thing I should eat?

Dambou is the first thing I invite people to eat when they come to my home country. It's a local salad made with either corn, rice or millet couscous and moringa.