Page 38 - Future Leaders 2018-2019

Profiles

KELVIN DEBORAH OLUBIYI, 21
IDIALU-IKATO, 22
School: King’s College London
School: Imperial College Course: Global Health and
London Social Medicine (BSc)
Course: Medicine (MBBS/BSc) Year: Graduated
Year: Three (of Five) Grade: 2:1
Grade average: 2:1
In 2015 Deborah founded an
alumni association for her old secondary school, with the
Kelvin is a team leader at a special needs adventure motto “uniting the past, embracing the present”. Each year
playground in East London/Essex named ELHAP. Here, he she returns to host an Alumna Day featuring workshops
oversees all the staff who are supervising the children, on careers, universities and other opportunities for year 10
who have a range of complex needs. “I hold meetings at students. She has held events for more than 240 pupils and
the beginning of the day to ensure all staff can effectively gained sponsorship from local companies, the University of
facilitate the play of the children in the best way possible. I Hertfordshire and others. At King’s she has also been Vice
help the staff when necessary and lead by example when President of the Global Health Society, first year rep for the
demonstrating playwork. I regularly communicate with ACS and events officer for King’s Gospel Society.
parents on how their children are getting on and I plan the Deborah is a subject ambassador for the Global Health and
overall day, including possible themes,” he explains. Social Medicine department at her university, and since starting
In his third year Kelvin took on the role of president of in June 2016, she has attended well over 15 events, meeting
the Imperial College African Caribbean Society. His main prospective students and their parents/guardians. She also
vision for the society was to promote and celebrate African, represents the department and university on a large scale,
Caribbean and Black British cultures while also developing speaking on a number of panel sessions.
the next generation of leaders. She is also the digital subject ambassador which requires her
In that role, he has used his negotiation skills to create to regularly send newsletters and Facebook posts to future and
sponsorship partnerships with a range of corporate current King’s College applicants, keeping them informed of
organisations, from providing financial support to donating what goes on at King’s and how they can best utilise their time
free food items. once they arrive.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Involved in cutting-edge research into epilepsy and working I hope to be travelling in Africa, in particular Nigeria, working
as a consultant doctor. on a project relating to the health system infrastructure.

IBUKUN ONANUGA, 21 NNEOMA UZO, 22

School: University of School: University of Sheffield
Birmingham Course: Medicine (MBChB)
Course: Biomedical Science Year: Third (of Five)
(BSc) Grade average: First class
Year: Graduated
Grade: 2:1 Passionate about improving
healthcare services across Africa,
Ibukun is one of just five Frank Ker scholars, picked from 300 Nneoma has set up a working group of students to research
applicants to fund a pathology research project. The grant ways to improve infection control in Nigeria. She aims to
helped her to take up an internship at Birmingham cancer start by collaborating with the health ministry to introduce
research lab, Bloodwise, where she helped to investigate small but effective measures, such as putting hand sanitisers
why treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is not as effective in in hospitals, and plans eventually to link with pharmaceutical
children as it is in adults. “I helped them find that there was firms to improve treatments and practices more widely.
a different strain in the children’s illness,” she reveals. Based Nneoma is currently International Representative of the
on her findings, the team are taking the research forward. 1000-strong Medical Society at Sheffield, and launched the
This year, Ibukun worked as Chief Marketing Officer for first ever International Fair aimed at encouraging awareness
The Grand Gospel 2018, a Birmingham-based event with of the different cultural backgrounds within the med school.
more than 500 attendees. Since taking over, she has grown Students from 14 countries hosted stalls representing their
the event’s Twitter platform by 200 followers, 400 on diverse foods, cultures and medical practices. The fair, which
Instagram and gained more than 600 ‘likes’ on Facebook. Nneoma organised with five members of the Society, has
In 2017, she was head of hospitality for Transcend, a gospel now blossomed into an annual event.
drama production. Ibukun organised catering for 500 people As treasurer for the Nutrition Society, Nneoma has also
on a tight £500 budget securing sponsorship from Kripsy collaborated with the student-led organisation Nutritank
Kreme, Tesco, Asda and CostCo. to bring better knowledge of nutrition into the healthcare
She also recently set up her own business, WigsByIbs, a service, by hosting events for medical students. “It’s
custom wig service that she runs via Instagram at something that’s highly neglected,” she says.
@wigsbyibs which made a profit of £2000 last year.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I will have completed a few years of clinical practice, possibly
Having gone through graduate entry medicine and in a place specialising in cardiology, and I’d like my organisation to be
where I can change someone’s quality of life. up and running and making an impact on healthcare in Africa.

36 FUTURE LEADERS 10 ANNIVERSARY EDITION
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