World · Europe · 12 hrs ago
South Sudan-born student graduates in business economics in Cagliari
Okumu Achayo Vicky Lagu graduated in business economics at the University of Cagliari in Cagliari, Italy, after growing up in South Sudan.
She said conflict, the loss of loved ones and other hardships shaped her determination to continue studying.
Language barriers and health problems made her studies difficult after she arrived in Cagliari, and she sometimes considered giving up.
Support from the university and the Safe/Unimed project helped her stay on her path, while she also completed an internship at the Natural Power cooperative.
Her master's thesis studied artificial intelligence in African corporate finance, focusing on banks in Nigeria and Kenya and whether AI can produce a clear return on investment.
The work examines how financial institutions might use new technology to create practical value.
Lagu hopes to use her work to help others, inspired in part by the support she received and her experience singing for older people in a care home.
The accounts give no further details about her next steps.
Okumu Achayo Vicky Lagu, who was born and raised in South Sudan, graduated in business economics at the University of Cagliari.
Her master's thesis examined artificial intelligence in African corporate finance, focusing on Nigeria and Kenya.
She faced health problems and language difficulties after arriving in Cagliari and said she sometimes considered giving up.
She credited the University of Cagliari and the Safe/Unimed project with supporting her studies.
Lagu said she hopes to work helping others, and she sings with the Laeti Cantores choir.
- Who
- Okumu Achayo Vicky Lagu, born and raised in South Sudan.
- What
- She graduated in business economics at the University of Cagliari. Her master's thesis examined artificial intelligence in African corporate finance.
- When
- 2026, according to the articles published on October 14.
- Where
- The University of Cagliari in Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy.
- Why
- She said she wanted to understand how banks can gain concrete value from artificial intelligence and whether there is evidence of a return on investment.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Lagu said she faced health problems and language difficulties.
She completed an internship at the Natural Power cooperative.
News reports said Lagu had graduated from the University of Cagliari.
- Graduate
- Okumu Achayo Vicky Lagu
- University
- University of Cagliari
- Thesis focus
- Artificial intelligence in African corporate finance
- Countries studied
- Nigeria and Kenya
- Support project
- Safe/Unimed
3 sources
What people are saying
I was born and raised in South Sudan; growing up amid conflicts and adversity taught me resilience, faith in God and perseverance.
It changed my story, my life and my path. I had never hoped to reach this level of education, and yet here I am today.
I wanted to understand what enables banks to get concrete value from AI and whether there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate its return on investment.
Working to help others, just as others helped me.