Midwifery student and Miss Africa Ireland Lindsay shares her passion for care
Lindsay Nwadike, originally from Longford, is a midwifery student at Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT). With a long-standing interest in obstetrics, she initially began a degree in medical and Health Sciences before making the decision to return to college to pursue Midwifery — a choice driven by her passion for women-centred, one-to-one care.
What drew Lindsay most strongly to the profession was the unique nature of midwifery practice. She highlights the privilege of supporting women before, during, and after childbirth:
“In midwifery we have a lot of happy outcomes,” according to Lindsay, reflecting on her favourite parts of the role. “Of course, there are sad days, but in general in Midwifery the women are well, and taking care of them before, during and after birth, that’s what drew me into the course.”
She particularly values the impact midwives can have on women’s hospital experiences. During her postnatal placements, she has frequently heard mothers express how the care and support of midwives made their time in hospital a more positive and comforting experience — something she finds deeply meaningful.
Her favourite placement areas to date are Labour and Postnatal care, where she feels most connected to the core values of the profession. She has also thoroughly enjoyed her Community Midwifery placement, describing the opportunity to support mothers after they return home as an area she is keen to explore further in her future career.
It was during the first year of her studies, when Lindsay witnessed her first birth on the labour ward that she knew midwifery was a career she wanted to commit to for life.
Along with balancing her studies, Lindsay is also busy in her role as Miss Africa Ireland. The initiative unites African communities and the wider Irish society through a high-profile platform that celebrates diversity, empowers youth, supports emerging talent, and educates audiences about African cultures and traditions. Through her role as Miss Africa Ireland, Lindsay is an ambassador who represents the African diaspora, and is dedicated to promoting African heritage and multiculturalism in Ireland.
Last October was the 25th anniversary of the competition and when Lindsay first got involved.
“A family member encouraged me to sign up for it. It's definitely out of my usual choice of activities but turned out to be very interesting and helped me learn a lot about myself. Somehow, I got the crown, which was amazing.”
Reflecting on her experience at DkIT, Lindsay highlights the benefits of the institute’s smaller class sizes and supportive learning environment. She values having consistent lecturers throughout the four-year programme and notes that DkIT offers a welcoming and less intimidating alternative to larger universities, allowing students to feel known, supported, and confident as they progress through the course.
Studying and managing the Miss Africa role is busy but Lindsay is rising to the challenge:
“Balancing it with such an important year of my degree has been hard, with placement eating into most of my “reign” so far, however, I’ve been involved in events and some other initiatives. I’m looking forward to seeing what I can accomplish this summer after my exams.”
