MIAMI — A graduate of the Benjamin Leon School of Nursing at Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Homestead Campus is celebrating an award she received from the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) for her innovative social venture to send incubators to neo-natal wards in Nigerian hospitals.

Ayomidamope Adejola, who received her associate of science degree in nursing last month, received the award from CGI U for her innovative social venture.  Launched in 2007, CGI U brings together students, youth organizations, topic experts, and celebrities to discuss and develop innovative solutions to pressing global challenges. The meeting assembles innovative students who have made Commitments to Action — new, specific, and measurable plans to address global challenges. Students make commitments aligned with CGI U’s five focus areas: education, environment and climate change, peace and human rights, poverty alleviation, and public health.

Adejola created her social venture, “Neonatal Incubators for Nigeria,” because of the need to reduce the high rate of newborn mortality in Nigeria, where access to incubators is insufficient for the large number of babies born prematurely year-round.

“Prematurity is the leading cause of death for babies in the first month of life, with 85,700 newborn deaths due to preterm birth every year in Nigeria,” Adejola said.  “Preterm survivors often suffer from lifelong disabilities, such as visual and hearing impairments, chronic lung disease, long-term cardiovascular illness, learning and behavioral impairments. Prematurity has a far-reaching impact on their development and on their health as children and adults.”