Cynthia Okoli, a Nigerian student at Oxford Brookes University, has received a national research award for her work on a clinical trial in Oxford.
Okoli first studied business administration before switching to an MSc in mental health nursing after working part-time on mental health wards.
Okoli arrived in the UK in 2019 as an international student and first enrolled in an MBA programme at the University of South Wales. However, her career path changed when she met a group of nurses who inspired her to pursue mental health nursing.
Okoli reflected on her experience, noting the lack of mental health services and the continued stigma associated with mental health disorders in Nigeria, which fueled her determination to pursue a career in nursing.
As part of her studies, she completed a Mental Health Student Hybrid (MESH) placement at Oxford’s Warneford Hospital, where she got vital research experience in addition to clinical assignments.
Her study centred on the use of ketamine as a treatment for severe depression, and she took an active role in many research processes, such as screening possible clinical trial participants.
Okoli’s passion and engagement in her study earned her the national ‘Most Engaged MESH Student’ award for her outstanding clinical trial efforts.
Okoli is set to attend the Student Nursing Times Awards ceremony in London on April 26, where she will be celebrated for her achievements in mental health nursing rresearch.