February 2017

Bridget Adeyemi-Pelu

BSc Hons International Nursing Studies 2012

1.  Tell us about yourself.

I am Mrs Bridget Adeyemi-Pelu (née Okonedo) and I am blessed with a son.

I currently work at Lagos State Health Service Commission in my country, Nigeria. I graduated from Anglia Ruskin University in 2012 with Bachelor of Science with Honours in International Nursing Studies.

2.  What is your fondest memory at Anglia Ruskin University?

I have lots of them but my most memorable one was being involved in the Open Day activities, created for international students on arrival to the university for the very first time. At one of these sessions, I was selected to be an Anglia Ruskin Ambassador, to help welcome other international students to the country. This was fun and interesting and gave me the opportunity to interact with other students from different countries and backgrounds.

3.  What advice would you give to current students as they're preparing to graduate?

Study hard and focus on becoming a master of your field. Do not give up, success will come due to your hard work.

4.  What do you know now that you wish you had known whilst you were studying?

I now know that I would like to be an International Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). I wish I had known this before. As a result, I am now working towards this goal and I hope to achieve this status soon.

5.  How did your time at Anglia Ruskin help you?

During the course of my study at Anglia, I was exposed to other cultures from all over the world and worked in a more technological driven society which has greatly improved my wealth of experience in human management, developed my leadership skills and helped me to secure my present job with the Lagos State Government.

6.  What did you love about your chosen course?

My class all came from different countries but we studied and worked together as a unit and our lecturers taught us well. I received good feedback from lecturers and appreciated having easy access to library facilities. 

7.  What would you tell someone thinking of studying at ARU? 

Keep calm and adopt the 'hakuna matata' approach. ARU campuses offer first class facilities and have the best environment for learning. Don’t hesitate or over think it, just go for it!

8.  In one word how would you describe Anglia Ruskin?

Excellent

9.  Who was the biggest influence on your career?

Both my late father, Mr Osarenwminda Okonedo JP and my loving husband Mr Pelu Adeyemi. My husband is encouraging me to go for my Master’s programme in Health Management at Anglia Ruskin and also to consider whether I might want to continue on further, to complete a PhD.

10.  What accomplishment are you most proud of?

My degree. My family sent me to England to study using their hard earned money and I came back with my certificate, with no issues. This was a proud moment in my life.

11.  What advice would you give your younger self?

Be courageous, focused and determined. Don’t stop learning. Winston Churchill said and I quote “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."

12.  What drives you?

Doing a good job as a nurse and seeing my patients getting out of their sick beds with a renewed spirit drives my passion to be the best at all times.

13.  What’s next?

My Masters in Nursing, followed by PhD in Clinical Nursing or Health Management. This will help me in achieving my ambition to become the next Commissioner of Health in my home town of Edo State, Nigeria.