When Victor Nago Maina relocated to Japan to further his education, he was unaware that his expertise would lead to the creation of some of the most iconic projects in the world.
Narrating his journey on Chams Media’s Daring Abroad program, Maina, an engineer by profession, revealed that he has been part of some of the world-class projects across the globe, including the popular bridges in Japan.
Maina’s passion for engineering was ingrained in him when he was only 11. He worked hard in his studies, landing a spot at the prestigious Starehe Boys Centre.
“When I was around 11, I was tasked with the project of building a poultry house by myself. I had to source timber, nails, other materials, and budget for them to build the house. I think that is where my passion for engineering started,” said Maina.
It was while in Starehe when he landed a scholarship to further his studies in Japan, thanks to his teacher who encouraged him to grab the opportunity.
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“My teacher encouraged me to seize the scholarship opportunity,” said Maina. “I sat for the test, passed, and relocated to Japan.”
Maina relocated to Japan in 2002 to join Osaka University where he studied civil engineering, specialising in structural engineering.
He revealed that he was the only Kenyan in the institution, which also hosted around 2 to 3 African students.
Despite facing numerous challenges, including loneliness and culture shock, Maina soldiered on to complete his 4-year course, and later enrolled for a Master’s degree.
He started job-hunting and eventually landed a job as a design engineer in a company that specialized in building steel bridges.
“The scholarship gave me an option to go back home or look for a job in Japan. I decided that since I had already spent seven years as a student learning the Japanese language and culture, it would be a waste of time for me to go back home without seeking some job experience,” said Maina.
He was part of the team that designed the cable-steeled Nhat Tan Bridge in Hanoi, Vietnam, as well as a Mumbai-based bridge, which he says took 7 years of planning.
His expertise saw him appointed as part of the committee of the Indian Road Congress to assist in the review of designed roads.
Maina revealed that there are so many Kenyans working in Japan as civil engineers, adding that he aspires to bring his skills back to Kenya.
