A Cry for Help: Jade’s Fight for Hope in the UK
After Losing Her Mother, Her Health, Her Heavily Invested Studentship, Her Visa, now Her Freedom, All Jade Has Now is Hope Jade, a bright and resilient young woman in her twenties, is facing an unimaginable struggle. Last year, she tragically lost her mother, a devastating blow that set off a chain of heartbreaking events. Already grappling with immense grief, Jade then lost her studentship at a UK university, leading to the devastating loss of her legal immigrant status in the UK. With nothing to return to in her home country, Jade has been desperately trying to reapply for a visa, facing repeated refusals and mounting despair. For the past 18 months, I’ve watched her mental health deteriorate to a critical point, with suicidal thoughts becoming a constant battle. In an attempt to find solace and strength, she recently went on a three-day spiritual retreat of fasting and prayer. Heartbreakingly, instead of finding peace, her situation has taken an even more dire turn: she has now been detained by the Home Office. Despite these immense personal struggles, Jade has shown incredible resilience and a remarkable spirit of service. She has consistently dedicated herself to supporting others, actively participating in and contributing to various community initiatives. At her university, she was a vital part of the Nigerian society, and on a national level, she played an active role in the Nigerian Students Society Presidents’ Forum (NSSPF: You can learn more about NSSPF’s works here). Even while facing her own profound challenges, Jade has been a beacon of encouragement and assistance to fellow students, embodying a selfless commitment to her community. Jade’s story is a harrowing testament to the compounding challenges many international students face when their circumstances change unexpectedly. She invested deeply in her education and her future in the UK, only to have it all unravel through a series of tragic circumstances beyond her control. Now, alone and in detention, her hope is fading fast. A Plea for Support As Jade navigates this difficult period, she needs our help. Her story is a testament to the human spirit’s capacity for resilience and adaptation. With the right support, Jade can overcome her current struggles and achieve her full potential. If you’re moved by Jade’s story and are able to offer any support, advice, or connections that could help her, do not hesitate to reach out. Her life, and her future, depend on it. You can reach out to her through any of our channels on: admin@nsspf-uk.org or 07448356792 #JusticeForJade #HelpJade #InternationalStudentCrisis #MentalHealthMatters #UKImmigration #NigerianStudents #NSSPF #HumanitarianCrisis
From NHS Project Management to Leading the Anglia Ruskin University Nigeria Student Association (ARUNSA): The Story of Elizabeth Nwachukwu
Andrew Oyedola (Founder and ex-President, ARUNSA) The Anglia Ruskin University Nigeria Student Association (ARUNSA) is proud to introduce its new President, Mrs. Elizabeth Nwachukwu! Elizabeth brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success from her extensive career in project management and coordination within the NHS and other organizations. Her unique blend of skills and leadership qualities makes her an ideal candidate to steer the association towards new heights. A Profile of Excellence: Experience in Driving Change and Building Relationships Elizabeth is an accomplished Project Manager/Coordinator Administrator with over eight years of experience. She has a strong background in supporting the delivery of transformational and organizational change projects, from initiation to completion. Her experience spans various sectors, including financial services, government, and the public sector, demonstrating her adaptability and broad understanding of diverse operational environments. One of Elizabeth’s key strengths is her ability to work with a wide range of stakeholders at various levels, building strong relationships with third-party suppliers, and adapting to different project management frameworks such as Waterfall, Scrum, and Agile methodologies. She is also recognized as a fluent communicator with strong organizational skills, adept at coordinating project planning activities. Her proactive approach, combined with strong analytical, minute-taking, and problem-solving skills, further highlights her capability to manage complex initiatives effectively. A Career Dedicated to Impactful Project Delivery Elizabeth’s career is marked by a series of impactful roles, primarily within the NHS, where she has consistently delivered successful outcomes in complex healthcare IT projects. Leading EPR Implementations: Elizabeth has held significant roles in the implementation of Electronic Patient Record (EPR) systems. As an EPR IAPTUS Project Manager at Camden & Islington and Barnet, Enfield, Haringey NHS Trust (June 2024 – Present), she has been responsible for the end-to-end delivery of the EPR program for IAPTUS, ensuring projects are on time, within scope, and on budget. This includes developing detailed project plans, coordinating cross-functional teams, engaging with key stakeholders, and developing change management strategies to ensure smooth transitions. Her work ensures robust, efficient, and user-friendly EPR systems support Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services. Prior to this, as an EPR Programme Project Support Officer (October 2023 – February 2024) within the same NHS Trust, she played a crucial role in implementing the RiO system across North London Mental Health Trusts. This initiative aimed to improve patient data management, streamline clinical processes, and ensure seamless integration with existing health systems, ultimately enhancing patient care, increasing operational efficiency, and generating cost savings. In this role, she assisted with project planning, facilitated meetings, tracked resources, managed risks, and ensured compliance with project governance processes. Strengthening Project Management Offices (PMO): Elizabeth’s expertise extends to establishing and optimizing Project Management Offices. As a PMO Role contributor (February 2024 – May 2024) at Camden & Islington and Barnet, Enfield, Haringey NHS Trust, she ensured the successful execution of integration projects by collaborating with internal experts, anticipating challenges, developing preventive measures, and coordinating project timelines. She also focused on tracking KPIs, driving accountability, and maintaining thorough project documentation. Her experience as a Project Support Officer at NHS Scotland National Services Scotland (September 2022 – October 2023 and September 2021 – April 2022) further highlights her involvement in supporting project managers, coordinating PMO process changes, and preparing performance reports. Diverse Project Support and Management Roles: Elizabeth’s career also includes a variety of project support and management roles. As an Assistant Project Manager at Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust (May 2022 – October 2022), she supported the introduction of a single Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) across West Yorkshire. Her responsibilities included financial tracking, maintaining project logs (RAID logs), reporting project status, and assisting with governance meetings.Her tenure as a Project Coordinator at Computer Centre (March 2021 – September 2021) involved supporting project and policy teams, facilitating planning workshops, tracking key decisions and risks, and coordinating portfolio reporting. She also has experience as a Project and Datix Administrator Coordinator at Whittington Hospital NHS (November 2020 – March 2021), where she managed clinician reporting workflows, coordinated vaccination centers, and handled data incident reports. Earlier in her career, as a Data Validation Officer at Homerton Teaching Hospital NHS (September 2019 – October 2020), she assisted with the deployment of a new case management system and focused on data quality and adherence to waiting time targets. Her financial background is evident from her role as Project Support Finance at Whittington Health NHS Trust (July 2018 – September 2019), where she significantly reduced time spent on processing timesheet data, transformed dashboards for effective monitoring, and streamlined purchase order processes. Education and Key Skills: A Foundation for Success Elizabeth holds a degree in Health and Social Care from Anglia Ruskin University (2024), providing her with a direct connection to the institution and a deep understanding of health-related fields. Her qualifications also include PRINCE2 Training, demonstrating her adherence to recognized project management methodologies. She is proficient in various project management tools and systems such as RiO, Health Edge, Cerner, Medway, and Datix. Her key skills include: Stakeholder Management Programme and Project Management / Coordinator Project Governance Project Planning Information Security Financial Tracking Customer Service Administrative Management Resource Management Vision for the Anglia Ruskin University Nigeria Student Association As the new President of the Anglia Ruskin University Nigeria Student Association, Elizabeth Nwachukwu’s extensive experience in project management, stakeholder engagement, and process improvement will be invaluable. Her ability to coordinate cross-functional teams, facilitate communication, and drive accountability, honed through years of managing complex projects in demanding environments, directly aligns with the needs of a thriving student association. Elizabeth’s background in supporting organizational change and her commitment to fostering strong relationships will enable her to effectively lead initiatives that benefit Nigerian students at Anglia Ruskin University. Her understanding of data management and reporting will ensure transparency and data-driven decision-making within the association. She is well-equipped to manage events, allocate resources, address student concerns, and develop strategic plans that enhance the student experience. The Anglia Ruskin University Nigeria Student Association looks forward to a period