Dr. Justina Seyi-Olajide: A Pioneer Aboard the Global Mercy
Dr. Justina Seyi-Olajide, a brilliant pediatric surgeon from Nigeria, made history aboard the Global Mercy in Sierra Leone, becoming the first female African pediatric surgeon to serve as a volunteer with Mercy Ships.
Now practicing at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, her Mercy Ships journey began much earlier, sparked by a simple late-night internet search.
It all begins with a seed
Just after graduating from medical school, Dr. Seyi-Olajide was browsing the Internet, searching for something different from routine medical practice, when she stumbled upon the Mercy Ships website. “That’s interesting,” she thought. She applied to volunteer, but back then she didn’t yet meet the experience requirements for service on board.
More than a decade later, that seed took root again after she crossed paths with Dr. Sherif Emil, Mercy Ships’ International Chief Medical Officer, at a children’s hospital in Montreal.
A passion for pediatric care
Trained in Nigeria, Dr. Seyi-Olajide attended Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria for her medical studies, then completed her surgical training at Lagos University Teaching Hospital. “I’ve been a pediatric surgeon for 13 years now,” she shares.
Her love for children and the tangible impact of pediatric surgery drew her to the specialty. “A child comes in, you operate, the child gets better. The parents are happy, everyone is happy,” she explains.
Pediatric surgeons in Nigeria cover a wide range of procedures, including urology, thoracic surgery, and soft tissue surgery. She describes this broad scope as an opportunity to “grow even more,” a challenge she embraces with enthusiasm.
“I have to be part of this project. I want to be part of the change that’s happening.”
- Dr Seyi-Olajide
Committed to bridging the gap in access to healthcare
For Dr. Seyi-Olajide, volunteering with Mercy Ships goes beyond medicine : it’s about representation and impact. She believes that the participation of professionals from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is essential: “I have to be part of this project. I want to be part of the change that’s happening,” she said.
As a practicing surgeon in Nigeria, she understands the scale of the need for surgical care in West Africa and across the continent: “About 40 to 45 percent of the population in most sub-Saharan African countries are children under the age of 15,” she explained. With Sierra Leone having only one general pediatric surgeon, “there is a huge gap to fill.”
“I decided to volunteer with Mercy Ships because it was an opportunity to help those in need,” she shared, “and to be part of the effort to support people who are underprivileged and have little or no access to healthcare.”
Life on board: Lively and full of meaning
As a surgeon aboard the Global Mercy, each day is fully packed. Ward rounds, surgeries, patient assessments, evening visits to check on the health of children in recovery, and preparing for the next day fill her entire schedule. Dr. Seyi-Olajide describes this experience as particularly intense and rewarding.
But what struck her the most is the spirit aboard the ship. “You see people working together as a team, with enthusiasm, joy, good humor, and a warm mindset,” she shares.
She also highlights the exceptional surgical care provided on the hospital ship: highly skilled professionals work together to deliver safe, high-quality surgical procedures, entirely free of charge. “It’s not just about treating the patient, but caring for the person as a whole. That’s what happens here,” she says.
Dr. Seyi-Olajide encourages other surgeons, especially those from low- and middle-income countries, to take the leap. She urges them to “step forward and volunteer. It’s an opportunity to give, but it’s also a chance to learn, interact with people from different backgrounds, and be part of an extraordinary community.”
- 5 November 2025
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