From silence to the soundboard of leadership

From the vibrant streets of George and Garden Compounds in Lusaka to the buzzing studios of UNZA Radio, Amos Sikaonga’s journey is a testament to quiet resilience, relentless growth, and the unyielding power of self belief. 

Born the last of six children, Amos began his educational journey at Ngwelele Primary School in 2007 and later attended Munali Boys Secondary School, completing his studies in 2018. 

Though he once dreamed of becoming an engineer, life had different plans, drawing him towards pens, microphones, and stories.

As a child, Amos wrestled with a fear that silenced him – the fear of speaking. Classrooms were battlegrounds for his confidence. 

“I wasn’t what you’d call social,” he said. 

Yet, in silence, a storyteller was forming. He found refuge and release in writing, the paper becoming his voice long before he found the courage to speak aloud.

When Amos entered the University of Zambia in 2020 to pursue Media and Journalism, the path was far from smooth.

 Class presentations terrified him, and the social world of campus seemed daunting. But every challenge became a classroom of its own. Slowly, interviews replaced his fear with confidence.

 The voice that once trembled began to command rooms. “I wasn’t a social person in my first year; I just used to go for class, and when done with everything, I’d go straight home,” he said.

In his second year, Amos began writing news stories, talking to sources, and was inspired by Chris Kabamba, a feature editor at Lusaka Star.

 From student reporter to Business News Editor at Lusaka Star, and eventually Director of Programmes at UNZA Radio, Amos rose through the ranks not by chance, but by choice – the choice to show up, to learn, and to lead. “I treated each role like a full-time job,” he says. 

He sacrificed personal comfort, walking home from campus when money ran dry, choosing late-night study sessions over social outings, and embracing responsibilities that few dared take on.

 Through it all, Amos remained grounded, always remembering the boy who once couldn’t speak and honoring him by speaking boldly now.

“I once got a zero in class,” he admits with a laugh. Amos turned it into fuel. Each setback became a stepping stone, each challenge a page in his evolving story.

Today, as one of UNZA’s top graduating students, Amos  stands not just as a scholar, but as a symbol of growth, perseverance and the quiet power of rising from your own shadow to shine.

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