My name is Obinna Ebirim and I am postgraduate student studying MSc Public Health and Health promotion in this prestigious school. I am a medical doctor back in Nigeria and in the years prior to my arrival in Aberdeen, I worked in my country’s capital where I supported the government in strengthening immunization and the primary health care system. You won’t believe it that only 33% of eligible children get the vaccines they need in Nigeria and we have been working to change this unenviable situation, saving our children and mothers from vaccine-preventable diseases and deaths. Within that period, I was also volunteering at a sickbay for the poor, providing free medical care every Saturday. I have carried on this volunteering nature of mine to Aberdeen as I helped setup and dismantle the RGU float during the Torcher parade on 21st October. Also, every Wednesday, I help to lay and lif the carpets, for the elderly people’s bowling club at Ruthrieston West Church.
Beyond my professionalism and volunteerism, I have a vast leadership experience that makes me best fit for this postgraduate governorship role. I was an elected member of the Student Union in my undergraduate days at the University of Port Harcourt Nigeria, a Class governor of the Medical Student Association (PUMSA), Administrative Officer at Catalyst…the rebirth initiative, Pioneer President of the Health Club during my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) days, former appointed Personal Assistant to the Commissioner for Health in my local district in Nigeria, Content Developer for the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) face2face Group in Abuja until earlier this year, and currently the Co-founder / Vice President of Impact Driven Young Leaders (IDYL) Initiative. The recognition of these roles and leadership experience led to my selection by the United States Department as one of the 1000 African youths for the 2016 Mandela Washington Fellowship for young African leaders where we met and interacted with then President Barack Obama.
My desire to become your governor stems from my love for RGU, commitment to its goal of investing in people and motivation to serve fellow students. My love for RGU emanated from the services I received prior to my arrival from Nigeria. RGU representative checked on frequently in a most caring manner and assisted in reaching out to the UK immigration office when there was a delay with my VISA processing. This is a university that truly cares for its own and worthy of its high rating. I want to be part of the team that sustains this amiable culture and shares the stories internationally to attract more students while representing the interests of fellow students. I am humble, respectful, a consensus-builder, and have served in high-level national committees so be assured of effective representation. My training and practice as a medical doctor has endeared me with the qualities required for this role – respect for confidentiality, common sense, integrity and honesty.
When elected as your governor, I will actively seek ways, through primary or secondary students’ survey, to obtain your feedbacks on your academic and campus life with suggested ways of improvement. As postgraduate students, we are here for a short while and we ought to make it count. Let me be your mouth piece. While representing you in the board of governors, I will work closely with the undergraduate Governor and other members of the student union to ensure that any student interest is presented in a coordinated manner before the board of governors. Some of the challenges of postgraduates I identified since my arrival here, is the car parking restrictions and occasional internet outage that affects ongoing research works. We will work with the school management to find amicable solution to these and any other challenge that might come up. Previous postgraduate events will be continued and rejuvenated in a manner that attracts increased participation. Working with other members of Board, we are going to ensure that the positive image of our school is maintained, and its brand improved towards attracting more collaborations and opportunities for postgraduates like internships and placements.
Friends and colleagues, the choice to make these possibilities real lies in your hands. As we go to the polls in the coming days, I request that you vote for me as your postgraduate governor and go to sleep while I stay awake representing and presenting your interests before the Board of Governors. This is an assurance of excellence and I will not let you down. Thank you and God bless you.
Dr. Obinna Ebirim
Postgraduate Governorship Aspirant,
Robert Gordon University.