“Dr Shirley Onkani, VUT PhD graduate from Gabon, researches antibiotic pollution in water, highlighting health risks and inspiring with her academic journey.”
19 September 2025 | Story By: Thabisang Thebeeapelo | Picture: Sifiso Nomzaza
3 minutes read time.
Dr Shirley Priscilla Onkani, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Chemistry graduate from the Vaal University of Technology (VUT), has embarked on a groundbreaking journey that bridges science, society, and human resilience. Originally from the southeast of Gabon, she has positioned herself as a voice for environmental stewardship and public health, focusing her research on one of the most pressing concerns of our time: pharmaceutical pollutants, particularly antibiotics, contaminating water sources.
Her doctoral research sheds light on the alarming levels of pharmaceutical residues that find their way into rivers, streams, and groundwater. These substances, often discharged from households, hospitals, and industry, have far-reaching consequences for both ecosystems and human health. Antibiotic residues, in particular, are linked to the global rise of antimicrobial resistance, a crisis the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified as one of the greatest threats to public health. By investigating methods to detect and monitor these pollutants, Dr Onkani’s work provides critical scientific insights that could inform future water treatment strategies and policy frameworks across the continent.
Her journey to this point was neither simple nor straightforward. Arriving at VUT in 2011, she initially pursued Biomedical Sciences. Yet, driven by an unshakable promise to her father that one day she would be called “Doctor” and perhaps even “Professor,” she bravely shifted her path to Analytical Chemistry. That decision required courage, sacrifice, and a willingness to start afresh. “A PhD was one of the goals I always had in my life,” she reflects. “Switching to chemistry was my way of keeping that promise and following a deeper calling.”
As the first in her family, on both her mother’s and father’s sides, to attain a doctorate, her success carries profound symbolic weight. For her family, her community in Gabon, and the broader African scientific landscape, it is a story of possibility. “For anyone considering pursuing a PhD, just ensure that you have a strong support system. You will be fine,” she advises.
Her academic achievements also reveal the supportive environment fostered at VUT, where supervisors and colleagues provided the mentorship and laboratory resources that shaped her research journey. In turn, she has become a beacon for younger scholars, particularly women in science, who often face additional cultural and structural barriers in STEM disciplines.
Looking forward, Dr Onkani envisions expanding her research into practical solutions for water safety. She hopes to collaborate with environmental agencies, policymakers, and international research bodies to combat pharmaceutical pollution and mitigate the looming crisis of antibiotic resistance. Her dream extends beyond the laboratory: she wants her work to inspire young African women to pursue science with courage and determination.
Her story, rooted in Gabon but realised at VUT, is one of resilience, vision, and transformative purpose. It is proof that education, when coupled with perseverance and passion, has the power to transform not only individual lives but also entire communities.