MediVoice: Can you give us a quick introduction about yourself?
Hi. I’m Amarachi Godswill-Nwankwo, a medical student, passionate advocate for leadership, social impact, and personal growth.
Within IFUMSA, I have served as Parliamentarian, Clerk, amongst others. I currently chair the IFUMSA Alumni Relations Committee, where I’ve had the privilege of driving initiatives that strengthen our student and alumni community.
Beyond politics, I am deeply committed to empowering young people to grow. This has motivated me to lead teams to deliver high-value programs such as the Doctor Plus 5.0, Medivoice Advanced Writing Workshop ‘24, and the Pioneer College Stage Play.
MediVoice: Wow, you are indeed a Capacity woman. You said you currently serve as the Chairperson of the IFUMSA Alumni Relations Committee. For readers unfamiliar with it, could you describe what the committee does and why it matters?
The IFUMSA Alumni Relations Committee (IARC) is one of the constitutionally recognized standing committees of IFUMSA. Established over a decade ago, IARC serves as the bridge between IFUMSAites, both past and present. Our objective is to strengthen ties between IFUMSA and her alumni, ensuring that every IFUMSAite, from student to graduate, remains part of a vibrant, supportive network.
MediVoice: How did you become involved with IARC, and when did you decide you were interested in the activities of IARC?
I became involved with the IFUMSA Alumni Relations Committee (IARC) after being appointed as Chairperson by the President, Miracle Olajuyigbe, and subsequently ratified by the SRB.
Late last year, the President shared his inspiring vision for the BIG IFUMSA Administrative Year, and it deeply resonated with me. I suggested ways the alumni community could contribute to bringing that vision to life, and that conversation opened the door to my eventual appointment as Chairperson of IARC. Having worked closely with the President on several occasions, he believed in my leadership and capacity to deliver, and the rest, as they say, is history.
MediVoice: Can you tell us some of the major activities and programs the committee has executed under your leadership?
We’ve hosted a series of alumni webinars, two mentorship circles — one focused on LinkedIn personal branding and another on preparing for USMLE Step 1. We also launched the IFUMSA Alumni Podcast. I call these initiatives the IFUMSA Alumni Education Ecosystem. And we have reached 550+ people (both students and alumni) through these initiatives.
We also revived the Alumni LinkedIn page to further expand alumni engagement.We grew the alumni newsletter readership by over 100% subscribers, and we have been working on expanding the alumni database.
This year, we have also done more work in spotlighting our amazing alumni all over the world who are doing great work, and this has improved our relationship with them.
MediVoice: This is truly incredible. You’ve transformed the committee’s direction since your tenure began. What inspired you to envisioned it into what you now call the IFUMSA Alumni Education Ecosystem?
I saw a gap: students (and even alumni) needed structured mentorship and exposure. IARC had the potential to bridge that gap, so I envisioned it as a hub for intergenerational learning where alumni and students could grow together. I called it “bringing the alumni network closer to the student community and the student community closer to the alumni network.”
That’s how the IFUMSA Alumni Education Ecosystem was born.
MediVoice: Beautiful, Amarachi. You’ve mentioned the webinars, mentorship circles, and podcast. How do these initiatives work together to create an educational ecosystem?
Each project meets a different need. The webinars inspire and inform, the mentorship circles personalize growth, and the podcast amplifies alumni voices and stories. Together, they form a continuous learning loop — connecting, educating, and empowering alumni and students.
MediVoice: Well said. The projects you’ve mentioned have continued to see notable success and participation. How have you managed to sustain excellence and quality across the programs?
We prioritize impact, relevance, and quality delivery. Every topic, speaker, and format is chosen based on actual student and alumni needs. I also ensure every project has a detailed concept note and that team members understand the “why” behind the work we do.
MediVoice: You transitioned from preclinical to clinical while chairing the Alumni Relations Committee. How did you balance the demands of medicine, leadership, and personal life?
I was intentional from the start. I knew I wanted to excel academically while still delivering on my responsibilities as IARC Chairperson, so I became very deliberate about time management. Whenever it was time to study, I gave it my full focus. I also leaned into my strengths in terms of study methods. That helped me stay grounded.
Beyond that, I was blessed with incredible support from family, friends, and mentors. The Secretary, Ronke Ehimitan, is an exceptional person, and our team leads — Ayomipo, Joy Aliyu, Mojasope, Shaba, Bisola, and Damilola Adekunle — are tireless in their commitment.
Needless to say, the members of IARC are all amazing people. None of the work we’ve accomplished would have been possible without them.
MediVoice: I see, working with the right people paid off. What has been your most fulfilling moment during your time as the chairperson of IARC?
I’d say the feedback from students and alumni. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Knowing that the work we are doing is positively impacting the lives of IFUMSAites has been very fulfilling.
MediVoice: What has been the most challenging issue you’ve encountered?
Building an updated and comprehensive alumni database. We have some information gaps. However, we’re working very hard to bridge that gap.
MediVoice: Is there any program or event IFUMSAITES should be looking forward to from IARC?
Yes. The IFUMSA Career Day. We are working tirelessly to make this a reality. So watch out!
MediVoice: We will be waiting. When is the club calling for new members? And what advice would you give to IFUMSA members interested in joining the club?
Soon! If you will interested in joining the club, I encourage you to begin working on key skills such as data collection & verification, writing, social media management, and project management. Also, you can attend our programs and be a part of the work we do.
MediVoice: What would you like to say to MediVoice and IFUMSA at large?
Kudos to the members of Medivoice for the great work you do. And to IFUMSA, it is always a pleasure serving you all. Let’s do even greater work in the future!
Thank you, Amarachi, it is an honor to have you here. You really shared a lot with us and I’m sure the readers will agree with me.
Therefore, MediVoice readers, it’s a wrap. If you are interested in seeing more interactive sessions like this, click here.
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