When Yeaba began studying for her BTEC in engineering at Barking and Dagenham College, a tutor encouraged her to take part in the WorldSkills UK competition, believing she would be a great fit for Industry 4.0. “My tutors encouraged me to take part in the competition. They thought I would be a great fit for Industry 4.0,” Yeaba recalls.
That encouragement sparked a journey of skills excellence and self-discovery. Yeaba reached the National Finals in 2022, earning second place, and later joined Squad UK. While part of Squad UK, Yeaba had the opportunity to represent her country at the European Vocational Championship, Skills Austria 2023, showcasing the very best of UK technical talent on the European stage. “Competing helped me gain technical, communication, and problem-solving skills,” she explains. “It pushed me out of my comfort zone and that is where I grew the most.”
WorldSkills UK played a key role in building her confidence and giving her the tools to excel. In her third year at City St George’s, University of London, Yeaba applied what she had learned from her training to develop a project that was selected for an international manufacturing research conference.
“WorldSkills UK gave me the direction and motivation to follow my passion,” she says. “It taught me how to aim higher, stay resilient, and keep striving for excellence.”
Now a Master’s student in Robotics, AI, and Autonomous Systems, Yeaba is continuing to push the boundaries of innovation while championing the next generation of skilled professionals. Becoming a WorldSkills UK Skills Champion in August 2025 gave her the opportunity to give back, particularly by encouraging more women to pursue excellence in STEAM.
“I wanted to help young people, especially young women, believe in themselves, follow their interests, and not give up after one setback,” she explains.
“That is what I would tell any future female competitor. STEAM is an incredible space, and I want to inspire more women to see the opportunities there.”
Since joining as a Skills Champion, Yeaba has already taken part in Champion Connect, on how to adopt a winning mindset for competitors preparing for the 2025 National Finals. She looks forward to continuing to inspire and support others as they build confidence and develop their world-class skills.
WorldSkills UK is proud to celebrate Yeaba’s journey from competitor to Skills Champion, showing how developing world-class skills builds confidence, drives innovation, opens doors to meaningful work and career opportunities, and inspires excellence across the UK.
