MDLAG PROJECT 1 (SOLAR ELECTRIFICATION): OCI Foundation’s President joins UNIZIK alumni for a multi-million Naira NAUTH Project

JULY 2021: An alumni body, made up of medical practitioners that graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria, handed over a multi-million Naira solar project they built for students in the Faculty of Medicine at Nnewi, Nigeria.

The group of 25, called the “Medizik Diaspora Leadership and Advocacy Group (MDLAG)”, was first established on the 30th of January, 2021, with the aim of finding ways to assist their alma mater by addressing issues of pressing concerns to the institution. MDLAG includes medical practitioners that graduated from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Nigeria, who currently live outside Nigeria.

The OCI Foundation’s President, Assoc Prof Chris Ifediora, is a founding member of MDLAG, and this activity marks a continuation of his activities with medical students in Nigeria, the most notable of which is the Literary Award for Medical Students, LAMS. Details of LAMS can be found HERE.

The launch of the solar project was held on Thursday, the 22nd day of July, 2021. At the event, the completed project was officially handed over to the University’s Dean of Medicine on behalf of the University Medical Students Association (NAUMSA).

The launch was chaired by the Vice-Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) Prof. Charles Okechukwu Esimone (represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof Joe Ikechebelu). Also in attendance were the Provost, College of Health Sciences, NAU (Prof. Gerald Udigwe), the Dean, Faculty of Medicine, NAU (Prof I.V. Onyiorah), the Global President of the MEDIZIK ALUMNI (Dr E. Afiadigwe), as well as the leadership and members of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Medical Students Association (NAUMSA).

The project was bred out of the ambition to creating a conducive learning environment for the students of NAUMSA and the need to reaching out to their Alma Mater. The solar project is to serve as a steady power supplier to the clinical classes for the benefit of all. The next project, which is already being planned, will by huge. All alumni of MEDIZIK in diaspora should be part of this next project, an will be welcomed to join this noble group.

The original membership, which all contributed to the solar electrification project include:

A. United Kingdom/Ireland

1. Cosmas Anazodo (Leader of MDLAG)
2. Chinenye Ekpe
3. Steven Obidike
4. Jude Ezeh
5. Nnanna Igwe
6. Okechukwu Ogunna
7. Ebele Onubuogu

B. North America (USA and Canada)

8. Tochukwu Iloabuchi
9. Alex Ibezi-Enendu
10. Valentine Nwogbo
11. Chudi Ufondu
12. Osmund Agbo
13. Obiora Udeozo
14. Iyke Igwegbe
15. Tim Onyiuke
16. Edith Aniedoze
17. Nnamdi Ndubuka
18. Vincent Udoye

C. Australia

19. Assoc Prof. Chris Ifediora
20. Ugoo Onyeka
21. Tim Igbenije

D. South Africa

22. Emeka Orie