Lydia Adi Kolo is a 24-year-old Nigerian lady who has made her country proud by graduating as the overall best student of Sumy State University, Ukraine. She studied Medicine and finished with a first class degree and a CGPA of 4.88 out of 5.0. Lydia, who hails from Doko, Lavun local government area of Niger state, also received awards for the best performance in Internal Medicine and Surgery.
Lydia’s brilliance didn’t start today as she was crowned the best graduating student of Danbo International School, Kaduna, after making an A in all her subjects when she sat for the Senior School Certificate Examination.
Lydia’s achievement has been celebrated by many Nigerians on social media, who praised her for being a role model and an inspiration to other young people. Lydia said her goal is to serve in her state where everyone will benefit from her pool of knowledge.
“I believe that education is the key to success and empowerment,” she said. “I always strive to do my best in whatever I do and never settle for less.”
Lydia’s success story is a testament to the brilliance and resilience of Nigerian students who pursue their dreams abroad despite the challenges they may face. She has shown that with hard work, dedication and passion, nothing is impossible.
Lydia was motivated to study medicine by her father, who is also a medical doctor. She said she always admired his profession and wanted to follow in his footsteps. She also credited her mother for being supportive and encouraging throughout her educational journey.
“I am grateful to God for His grace and mercy upon my life,” she said. “I am proud of my Nigerian heritage and culture.”
Lydia said she faced some difficulties in adapting to the Ukrainian culture and language, but she overcame them with determination and perseverance. She said she learned to appreciate the diversity and beauty of different cultures and people.
“I hope to inspire other young girls to pursue their dreams and achieve their potentials,” she said.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria has one of the lowest ratios of doctors to population in the world, with only 0.4 doctors per 1000 people as of 2018. This means that there is a huge gap in the health care system that needs to be filled by qualified and competent professionals.
Lydia’s accomplishment is therefore commendable and worthy of celebration, as she has proven that Nigerian women can excel in any field of endeavor. She has also contributed to the global pool of medical knowledge and expertise.
Lydia plans to return to Nigeria after completing her internship in Ukraine. She hopes to specialize in neurology or cardiology and work in a tertiary hospital in her state. She also intends to engage in community service and mentorship programs for young girls who aspire to study medicine.
Lydia Adi Kolo is indeed a shining star who has made Nigeria proud. She deserves all the accolades and recognition for her remarkable feat.
Adejoke Moronkola is another young Nigerian lady who has achieved remarkable success in the field of nursing in the United States. She graduated from East Tennessee State University (ETSU) with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree in May 2022, earning several honors and awards, including the undergraduate commencement speaker of her class, the multicultural diversity scholar, and the Summa Cum Laude . She is now a registered nurse working in the medical intensive care unit of a prestigious hospital in Virginia.
Adejoke’s journey to becoming a nurse was not an easy one. She was born and raised in Alimosho, a suburban part of Lagos State, Nigeria, where she faced many challenges and limitations as a child. She had many dreams and aspirations, such as playing basketball, keyboard, piano, and saxophone, but she did not have the right environment or resources to pursue them. She attended the University of Lagos and graduated in November 2015 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacology with Second Class Honors (Upper). She then served her country as a Pharmacy Technician during her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year in Sango Ota.
In 2018, she decided to pursue a Master’s degree in Public Health, driven by her passion for addressing contemporary public health issues and improving public health practices globally. She applied to numerous public health programs in the United States and got funded for her Master’s program. She graduated in 2020 as one of the top three in her cohort.
In August 2020, she embarked on another journey to obtain a Nursing degree. She chose this path because she wanted to care for people and be there for them in their most vulnerable moments. She enrolled in the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program at ETSU, which is designed for students who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field and want to complete their nursing degree in one year. The program was very challenging and demanding, but Adejoke persevered and excelled. She graduated as the only student in her cohort with a Summa Cum Laude (honors), which means she had a grade point average of at least 3.9 out of 4.0. She also made the Dean’s list every semester, which means she had a grade point average of at least 3.5 out of 4.0. She held several leadership roles, such as accelerated cohort executive representative, college of nursing peer ambassador, mentor in the mentee-mentor program, and CFAA advisory board member. Click here to continue reading about Adejoke’s story.
