Part 1: Career Objectives and the Role of the Scholarship

I was 12 years old when I first volunteered at a health outreach. It was my church’s inaugural Lenten Outreach. Till this day, the heavy air of despair and agony etched on the faces I saw at the leprosarium remain unforgettable. Much so that, the memories of that fateful day were enough to radicalize me into an aspiring infectious diseases specialist.

Since then, I have begun to acclimatize myself with my future speciality by participating in related fieldwork, symposia and workshops. Life in medical school has also exposed me to beautiful experiences, newer perspectives and has broadened my horizons. As Secretary of my faculty’s Pathology Club and a past board member of the NIMSA Directorate of Health, I’ve been privileged to organise health outreaches/initiatives that sensitize and counsel. I’ve also been instrumental in the set-up of a medic-aid fund which subsidizes patient care.

These extracurriculars have enabled me to apply myself & my knowledge in the real world and have given me the much needed clarity on my career path/plans.

When I eventually become a doctor, I hope to continue similar projects on a larger scale. I have always wanted to garner corporate sponsorship for drugs and other medic-aid (as part of CSR) to give rural communities better access to quality healthcare. Another vision of mine is liaising with NGOs and foundations in planning health drives, outreaches, campaigns and other awareness initiatives.

This would tackle one of the biggest causes of these diseases: misinformation. My strong belief in vaccines being our best bet against the scourge of infectious diseases ravaging our communities has fueled my interest in venturing into research in Preventive Medicine.

Finally, lobbying the government (at various tiers) to establish and equip more primary health centres, subsidize drugs, vaccines and other forms of medicare nationwide is my ultimate goal.

Eleanor Roosevelt was right when she said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams “. However, my dreams cannot become reality without the necessary aid I desperately need to finance my education. I would be eternally grateful if this burden were lifted off my shoulders so I could complete my degree without any more hitches. This award would enable me concentrate & apply myself fully in my studies.

Indeed, it would enable me to achieve every facet of my dream- of not just becoming a doctor; but an asset to my community and the world at large.

Part 2: Building a Resilient Nigerian Economy: From Farm Security to Digital Empowerment.

Balanced nutrition is at the core of maintaining good health because it boosts immunity and prevents (infectious) diseases. Many active ingredients of drugs and vaccines are also sourced from herbs. As a result, agriculture is a major stakeholder not just in medicine; but, in many sectors of developing economies.

Farm security involves all steps taken to improve productivity with minimal cost, enhance food storage to ensure availability all year round and increase farmers’ revenues as well as agri-exports. As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change and other socioeconomic instabilities, building the Nigerian economy to be adaptable to changes and withstand shocks is of significant priority.

Technology has proven to be instrumental globally in socioeconomic development- especially in agriculture. Hence, it is common knowledge that digitizing our agricultural sector would drive farm security and build a resilient economy that can compete favourably on the global stage. Farmers can increase productivity and efficiency by leveraging digital technologies like precision agriculture available with mechanized farming.

The cost of production becomes minimal; enabling them to reinvest the excess overhead back into the business. Digital technology would also help farmers transform their livelihood into a business. When equipped with and taught how to use the appropriate data analytic tools, they will be able to keep track of income, expenditure and balance their books. E-literacy and e-commerce platforms would fuel faster access to new information on farming techniques, support digital entrepreneurship and create a steady supply chain with a direct connection to target local and international markets. As such, new opportunities for growth and development are created.

Mobile banking and digital payment systems would provide farmers with direct access to loans, government grants and other financial resources. Thus driving investment, business expansion and economic growth. The unprecedented growth seen within the agriculture would overtime spread to other sectors.

These digitally empowered sectors of the economy would also be able to compete favourably on a global scale. Thus, attracting a larger market with more investment, talent and innovation.

Ultimately, integrating traditional industries like agriculture and emerging sectors like digital technology would drive socioeconomic growth that is built on a strong foundation while being competitive and innovative. Digitizing agriculture would increase our efficiency and profits due to lower costs of production and waste. This would further translate into food security, sustainable development, digitization of other sectors of the economy and a better standard of living due to job and wealth creation.

With the right strategies and investments, a more digitized and resilient Nigerian economy that benefits all members of society can be built.