MOTIVATION LETTER Hello fellow IFMSA members, It is with great pleasure and dedication that I write this letter, with intact commitment to see IFMSA soar higher in its effort of addressing global health issues and working together with students from different walks of life to make this world healthier and more productive. I am Najib Muhammad Usman a 4th Year Medical Student born in Kano state of Nigeria, some 15 degrees east of the Greenwich meridian. From my early childhood I have always crave for the opportunity to give my all in the service to humanity. At first I did not know where to begin, what kept me going was the resolute resolve that I want to serve in my capacity to wipe the tears of those in desperate need. The journey was a very tumultuous one, very harsh and unending, but this was only the beginning. I have worked with many non-governmental and non-profit organizations both locally and internationally that target both local and global problems including the eradication of HIV/AIDS and other pandemic problems. Working on curative approach have made significant achievement to treatment and reduction on disease occurrences, but a more pragmatic approach towards attainment of better health and realistic result is by concentrating on preventive medicine. I have founded and worked with many organizations that deals with myriad problem like girl child education promotion, awareness and sensitization creation on sub Saharan African pandemics like malaria and sleeping sickness and many other humanitarian campaigns. Having said this, I must admit that in my ten years of these struggles, I have had only a few chances of interacting with international students. I took this as a challenge that I worked tirelessly to surmount, and today I am happy to say that I have made uncountable interactions and constructive dialogues with students internationally and have shared experiences, ideas and challenges we face in our respective terrains. 1
Africa is a diversified continent with abundant natural resources and skilled man power resting on complex geography ranging from the arid Sahara desert to the tropical rainforest. The various entities that make up the rising nation are plagued with different problems from malnutrition to communicable disease. Though each country has its peculiar problems, I believe that the solution to them all is this simple; by our coming together to share ideas and thoughts to build this beautiful land with dedication to duty and hard work. This is easier said than done but is not unachievable. There is no challenge how high so ever that cannot be defeated and pragmatic solutions been proffered when we as international students brainstorm ideas to see Africa forward. My experience as an active player in local associations like Nigerian Medical Students’ Association (NiMSA), Bayero University Medical Students’ Association (BUMSA) and numerous community organizations have thought me the incalculable significance of working together as a team for effectiveness and diffusion of ideas. I have learned to participate in team work and adapt to difficult circumstance and challenges I might face in the discharge of my obligation with realistic approach to problems and flexibility and inculcation of perseverance. Despite the aforementioned skills and experiences I have, I have to succumb to the fact that I have weaknesses which is embodied in my commitment to infallibly cross all hurdles. No attempt is been made to cover this weaknesses. That is why we are humans and not robots. When I work as a regional assistant in Africa on NMO Development, I will work with relevant persons and stakeholders to achieve the IFMSA pillars. Permit me to conclude by quoting Maya Angelou who said “For Africa to me… is more than a glamorous fact. It is a historical truth. No man can know where he is going unless he knows exactly where he has been and exactly how he arrived at his present place.” Thank you and God bless. Najib Usman Muhammad Candidate NMO Development Assistant for African Region 2016-2017 2