The NiMSA-ELF UIMSA Chapter, under the leadership of its Director, Jeremiah Omhokhai, successfully held the 2026 edition of CHIASMA on Saturday, November 14, 2026, centered on the theme, “The Exceptional Medical Student: Strategies to Do Exploits in Medical School Despite the Rigorous Academic Demands.” With over 400 participants, the conference brought together accomplished individuals and medical students for insightful conversations on academic excellence, personal development, leadership, and social impact.
The event opened with an introduction to the purpose and vision behind the gathering, followed by an address from the Campus Director, who welcomed participants and highlighted the significance of the initiative. The Special Guest of Honour, the Sub-Dean of Preclinicals, Dr Funmilayo Olopade was subsequently invited to deliver the keynote address.
In her keynote speech, titled “An Exceptional Medical Student,” She emphasised the importance of intentionality in navigating medical school. She encouraged students to develop a clear personal vision, create weekly timetables, utilise their time productively, and adopt effective study strategies rather than simply working harder. She also highlighted the importance of responsible technology use, cautioning students against allowing artificial intelligence to replace their independent thinking and intellectual abilities.
Other important points included embracing leadership opportunities without compromising academics, prioritising physical, mental, and emotional well-being, seeking mentorship, regularly reviewing personal progress, and avoiding the temptation to take on too many activities simultaneously. A particularly memorable highlight of the keynote was her presentation of the Tripod of an Exceptional Medical Student: Academic Excellence, Personal Distinction, and Social Impact, reinforcing the idea that excellence in medical school extends beyond academic grades.
Following a short interlude, participants engaged in the first panel session, which featured five panelists: Favour Obiwole, Caleb Okegbemi, Taleatu Charles, Patrick Okelue, and Collins Ijezie, who represented Folusho Olu-Adegbola. The discussion explored different dimensions of thriving in medical school while pursuing interests beyond the classroom. Favour Obiwole highlighted the importance of counting the cost before venturing into business, maintaining commitment to one’s goals, and ensuring that other pursuits do not interfere with academics. Caleb Okegbemi shared practical insights on building a strong CV, writing compelling scholarship and grant applications, and navigating rejection without giving up.
Taleatu Charles emphasised goal-setting, consistency, and the importance of personal reading, noting that while lecturers’ slides provide direction, independent reading provides depth. Patrick Okelue challenged the notion that extracurricular activities are distractions, stressing that personal development, mentorship, accountability, and self-awareness are equally important. Collins Ijezie, drawing from his experience in Community Health Awareness, highlighted discipline, commitment, teamwork, prioritisation, and the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between academics and other responsibilities.
A recurring message throughout the session was the importance of understanding oneself, setting clear priorities, seeking guidance from seniors, and pursuing opportunities with intentionality.
Another significant moment was the invitation of the founder of CHIASMA, Mr Covenant Odedele to the stage. Having established the initiative in 2023, the founder shared the inspiration behind its creation and recounted its journey, giving participants a deeper appreciation of the vision and commitment that have sustained the initiative. He also encouraged the participants to approach CHIASMA as an opportunity to learn from the experiences of others, build meaningful connections, and gather lessons that would remain valuable throughout their medical journey.
The second panel session, featuring five panellists, including Medic Wealth, Arotiba Seunara, Victor Femi-Lawal, Timilehin Akinbile (Rae Timzy) and Covenant Odedele, further explored the intersection of medicine, personal interests, entrepreneurship, content creation, and academic success.
Medic Wealth encouraged participants to embrace contentment and prioritise their medical training, summarising this with the expression (not in verbatim), “Medicine first, others can come after.” He also discussed the importance of understanding audience analytics while maintaining a balance between personal passion and audience expectations. Arotiba Seunara stressed that having a good decision or plan is only the beginning; execution is what truly matters. He also encouraged students to understand the uniqueness of their individual courses and use lecture slides as a guide when consulting textbooks
Victor Femi-Lawal emphasised the importance of acquiring foundational skills and consistently improving upon them. Rae Timzy offered a refreshing perspective on consistency, explaining that being consistent does not necessarily mean showing up every day, but rather making an effort to show up whenever possible. He also highlighted the importance of pursuing what one genuinely loves and establishing healthy boundaries. Covenant Odedele rounded off the discussion by emphasising detailed planning, regular class attendance, and the importance of identifying and maintaining strategies that work for one’s individual circumstances.
Among the special guests that came were Mr Joy Aboderin, the National Director of NiMSA-ELF and the Programme Coordinator of NiMSA-ELF, Mr Richard Olayinka.
Beyond the keynote and panel discussions, the conference also featured a networking session, providing participants with the opportunity to interact with fellow attendees and connect with the invited panellists. Photography sessions with the speakers added to the memorable experience. In a thoughtful gesture, souvenirs were presented to the first 50 participants.
The Campus Director, Jeremiah Omhokhai, also promised participants the launch of the Preclinicals Playbook for UIMSA & UADS Preclinical students in the coming days. He mentioned that it’ll contain all excerpts from CHIASMA 2026 and advice from hundreds of Clinical Students in Medical Schools across Nigeria.
Overall, CHIASMA 2026 was an enriching experience, bringing together accomplished individuals whose experiences offered practical lessons and fresh perspectives on navigating medical school. From discussions on academic excellence and scholarship opportunities to entrepreneurship, leadership, mentorship, and personal development, participants were exposed to possibilities that extend beyond the conventional expectations of medical training.
