By Fawaz Adebisi
In an inspiring tale of ambition and determination, Dr. Akingbola Adewumi, a recent graduate of Lagos State University College of Medicine, has been awarded the prestigious King’s College Quantedge and Rowan Williams Scholarship to pursue a Master of Philosophy in Population Health Sciences at the renowned University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
This remarkable achievement underscores Adewumi’s status as a catalyst for social impact among his peers.
In an exclusive conversation with Vanguard, he emphasized that Nigerian students should never feel limited in their pursuit of dreams as long as they possess the determination to succeed.
Adewumi expressed, “My encouragement to Nigerian students is that they should know there are actually no limits to what they can achieve.
“Once you are determined to achieve something, just make sure you have plans, and make sure your plans are detailed and realistic. To bring the plans to reality will not be a problem.”
The King’s College Quantedge scholarship, established in 2020 by the philanthropic Quantedge Foundation, headquartered in Singapore, traditionally selects a single scholar each year.
In a testament to Adewumi’s exceptional qualities, he has been bestowed with this highly coveted award.
Adewumi is deeply committed to reshaping the narrative of the Nigerian healthcare system through his advocacy initiatives under the banner of HealthDrive Nigeria.
He has employed meticulously devised strategies to combat infectious diseases, with a particular focus on Viral Hepatitis B.
His work includes conducting free Hepatitis B surface Antigen tests and providing subsidized 3-dosed Hepatitis B vaccination exercises through strategic collaborative efforts.
Speaking about his expectations at Cambridge, the 24-year-old visionary shared, “My expectation of studying with a scholarship at Cambridge University is that I would be trained through world-class methods and strategies on how to enhance the health of populations with more emphasis on the Nigerian context.”
“I believe there is a lot more work to be done to ensure that the diverse populations we have in Nigeria and West Africa can benefit from personalized public health strategies.
“This course at Cambridge University will grant me sufficient skills and knowledge to improve the quality of populations in West Africa.”
Adewumi also anticipates gaining expertise in data analysis and research to support public health interventions in Nigeria and West Africa effectively.
His remarkable works include the annual Hepatitis B vaccination exercise for medical students at the Lagos State University College of Medicine and the screening of over 500 students at Lagos State University’s main campus in Ojo to commemorate World Hepatitis Day in 2022.
Adewumi has received numerous accolades for his humanitarian endeavors, including the esteemed Diana Award and the Africa 25 Under 25 awards. In 2021, he was recognized as one of the top 500 youths on the African Continent for his contributions to the Nigerian health space.
Reflecting on this incredible opportunity, Adewumi expressed, “I feel elated and happy about the opportunity. It is a privilege for me to attend a world-class Cambridge University with a full scholarship. It is an opportunity I will not take for granted.”
In closing, he offered advice to Nigerian students, emphasizing the importance of taking academics seriously and engaging in extracurricular activities that align with their career plans, highlighting the significance of social impact and image-making activities.
