Dumebi Oforah

For Zeta Omega at-Large chapter member Dumebi Oforah, it’s all about helping others. Members of the community, his family, or simply a chance meeting with a stranger – Dumebi strives to improve the lives of those around him every single day. It’s no surprise that he turned to nursing as a career, then, as it joined his passion for learning with his dedication to help others.

Dumebi’ s journey began when he enrolled in Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Nigeria, Africa. In 2014 though, he moved to the United States, transferring his credits to Farmingdale State College in New York, US. Shortly thereafter, in 2015 he began working as a behavioral health associate at the South Oaks Hospital in New York and graduated with his bachelor of science in bioscience from Farmingdale just a year later.

Continuing to feel the pull of the nursing field, Dumebi earned admittance into the accelerated nursing program at the College of New Rochelle in Rochelle, New York, US in June 2017. It was during this time that Dumebi heard of Sigma, an organization offering support and resources to nurses at any stage in their career.

“I joined because of the career opportunities, educational recognition, and the networking opportunities Sigma offers to its members,” he said. “It has been a golden experience for me so far, exposing me to different resources and networking opportunities within both the academic and clinical areas that can support and guide me as I advance through my career and education.”

Dumebi was also able to take advantage of one of those resources before he was even inducted this past November, when he was selected as a recipient of the Sigma Foundation’s Edith Anderson Membership Subsidy grant. The grant covers the membership dues for an entire year, allowing deserving students the ability to join Sigma. “It [the Edith Anderson Membership Subsidy grant] was a great opportunity that aided me to pay for my membership fees, allowing me to join the Sigma Theta Tau International honor society and take my place within the Sigma family. Already, membership is aiding me in the advancement of my career through the mentorship and networking interactions with a multitude of great Sigma nurse leaders that I now have access to.”

Dumebi is graduating from the College of New Rochelle’s accelerated nursing program in January 2019 and plans on continuing to use his Sigma membership throughout his career. “I want to join in the education of our community, easing the burden of health challenges and aiding in the fight and eradication of diseases and other serious health conditions.”