By Onyeka Nwakoby, Founder of MEDGLOBE Initiative

Before relocating to Canada, I was a multiple award-winning pharmacist in Nigeria, recognized nationally for my contributions to healthcare equity and grassroots impact. My honors include the Her Network Woman of the Future Award, Hall of Fame Recipient by the Nigerian Volunteer Awards, Outstanding Woman Health Practitioner of the Year, and the Young Boss Humanitarian Award. These awards were not merely personal milestones—they reflected my enduring commitment to creating tangible change where it is most needed. As the founder of MEDGLOBE Initiative, I have led community health outreach programs that have served over 2,000 beneficiaries in under-resourced Nigerian communities. MEDGLOBE Initiative focuses on breaking health access barriers through free medical consultations, medication provision, health education, and the distribution of mosquito nets and hygiene care kits to vulnerable populations. More than a charity, MEDGLOBE Initiative has become a catalyst for empowerment: the volunteer teams, made up of emerging health professionals, gain transformative real-world experience that strengthens their medical competence, leadership skills, and commitment to service.

My work blends grassroots impact, public health leadership, and cross-cultural advocacy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I led health outreaches across Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, reaching over 1,000 people with hygiene kits and essential COVID-19 education. In Lagos, I coordinated a school outreach for over 700 students and staff, creating awareness on malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS, while also providing free testing, consultations, and medications. On World Health Day in 2024, I spearheaded free medical outreaches in both Abuja (IDP Camp) and Lagos, serving over 500 displaced individuals with medical assessments, medications, counseling, and education on mental and environmental health.

Since relocating to Canada, I have continued my advocacy, launching MEDGLOBE’s first North American project in February 2025, where we distributed 100 winter care packages to individuals experiencing homelessness in Toronto.

Beyond community impact, I am also shaping professional spaces. As a leadership committee member for the Black Pharmacy Professionals in Canada, I played a vital role in organizing our first-ever AGM in March 2025, advancing visibility, mentorship, and support for Black pharmacists nationwide. From Nigeria to Canada, I continue to champion equity, access, and representation in health.

My vision is bold, my leadership proven, and my impact undeniable. Through all these efforts, my career as a health professional currently working in clinical research has remained grounded in the values of equity, cultural awareness, and community leadership.

As a woman of African descent navigating the pharmaceutical and public health space in Canada, I bring a unique global perspective and a proven track record of impact that continues to evolve.