ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM FELLOWSHIP - CLASS OF 2025
United Nations Academic Impact and MCN are proud to partner on the Millennium Fellowship. This year, 60,000+ young leaders applied to join the Class of 2025 on 7,000+ campuses across 170 nations. 290+ campuses worldwide (less than 5%) were selected to host the 4,500+ Millennium Fellows.
UNITED NATIONS ACADEMIC IMPACT AND MCN PROUDLY PRESENT MARY ADETUTU EMAYE, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW AND CAMPUS DIRECTOR FOR THE CLASS OF 2025.
University of Ilorin College of Health Sciences | Ilorin, Nigeria | Advancing SDG 3, SDG 17 & UNAI 3
" As an advocate for preventive medicine and a passionate aspiring healthcare professional, I have always been deeply concerned about the high number of individuals who only seek medical help at the advanced stages of disease. My curiosity led me to participate in a community health awareness campaign, where I discovered a major reason for this trend; lack of basic health education and awareness.
During that outreach, I observed that many community members were unaware of fundamental health practices such as proper hygiene, environmental sanitation, and disease prevention strategies. It became clear to me that ignorance, rather than neglect, was often the root cause. This experience ignited a strong desire in me to go beyond the clinic and engage directly with communities, helping to bridge the gap between medical knowledge and public understanding.
When I learned about the vision and mission of Millennium Fellowship, I felt an immediate connection. Millennium Fellowship's commitment to all the SDGs and preventive healthcare aligns perfectly with my passion and purpose. I am eager to contribute to a cause that resonates so strongly with my values. Participating in Millennium Fellowship would provide me with the opportunity to make a meaningful impact reaching vulnerable populations, raising awareness, and helping people live healthier lives before illness strikes.
For me, it's not just an opportunity, it's a calling. And Millennium Fellowship is the right place to live it out. "
Millennium Fellowship Project: Cancer Awareness, Advocacy and Support
Project Description: Cervical Cancer Awareness and Education Initiative
Overview
The Cervical Cancer Awareness and Education Initiative is a community health project designed to promote early understanding, prevention, and informed decision-making about cervical cancer among adolescents. Recognizing the rising burden of cervical cancer in Nigeria, the project uses school-based education as an effective platform to reach young people early with accurate, life-saving information.
Project Focus
For this implementation period, the project centered on secondary-school outreach, providing structured awareness sessions to equip students—especially girls—with essential knowledge about cervical cancer, HPV infection, and preventive measures.
Project Objectives
1. To improve students’ understanding of cervical cancer, its causes, and how it can be prevented.
2. To correct common myths and misconceptions surrounding HPV, screening, and cervical cancer.
3. To empower adolescents with knowledge that encourages healthy decision-making.
4. To promote long-term community health by reaching students before they become adults at risk.
Activities Conducted
I carried out an awareness session at a secondary school, engaging students through an interactive health talk designed to be simple, relatable, and easy to understand. Key components included:
Introduction to cervical cancer: what it is and how it develops.
Understanding HPV as the major risk factor, including modes of transmission.
Prevention strategies, such as HPV vaccination, early screening, and safe practices.
Signs and early symptoms students should know.
Myths vs facts, clarifying common misconceptions.
Question-and-answer segment to engage students and test understanding.
Additionally, students were encouraged to share the information with peers, families, and community members to extend the project’s impact beyond the school.
Impact Achieved
Increased awareness among students, particularly young girls.
Improved understanding of HPV and the importance of vaccination.
Correction of misinformation regarding cervical cancer and screening.
Strengthened peer-to-peer education as students pledged to spread the knowledge.
A brief pre- and post-session assessment also indicated a noticeable improvement in students’ understanding of key concepts after the awareness program.
Relevance to the Millennium Fellowship
This project aligns with the Millennium Fellowship’s focus on SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG 4 (Quality Education) by promoting preventive health education, empowering young people with knowledge, and fostering sustainable community impact through awareness.
About the Millennium Fellow
Emaye Mary is a passionate advocate for preventive medicine, driven by a commitment to improving the health of Nigerians especially those who are uninformed or have limited access to reliable health information.
With excellent communication skills and a strong spirit of teamwork, she actively organizes health awareness programs and community outreaches, educating people on disease prevention, healthy lifestyles, and general wellness. Her focus extends to cancer awareness, where she works to promote early detection and dispel myths that hinder timely medical intervention.
A medical student at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Mary is also a certified public speaker and a self-taught graphic designer skills she leverages to create engaging, impactful health campaigns.
Her long-term vision is to bridge the gap between medical knowledge and public understanding, ultimately making a lasting, positive impact on the health and well-being of communities across Nigeria.
