Personnel of Federal Medical Center, Owo, Ondo State, Dr. Adebayo Olaolu has emerged the winner of the maiden edition of Shalina Rising Star Award, a unique platform for Nigerian resident doctors to showcase their clinical talents organized by a leading multinational pharmaceutical company in Nigeria, Shalina Healthcare. Dr. Olaolu won the contest at the grand finale of the event which took place in Lagos on Tuesday.
Speaking after receiving a cash prize of one million naira, an award plaque and a certificate of participation, Olaolu while appreciating the organizer and sponsor of the event, Shalina Healthcare, said; “it is a thing of joy to see a company thinking in this direction in the face of the global economic challenges. And it is more significant than this idea to encourage professionalism and learning in the medical profession. I thank Shalina Healthcare and pray for more prospects for the company.”
Also commending the efforts of Shalina Healthcare at the event, the Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Lagos State Chapter, Dr. Adetunji Adenekan said, “this is unprecedented in the history of the Nigerian medical profession, and I would like to give kudos to the organizers of the event. I thank you for what you are doing, it is very encouraging and I want to assure you that the NMA is ready to partner with you.”
In the same vein, the National President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, Dr. Isaya Godiya, who was represented by the National Editor of the association, Dr. Omoniyi Ayooluwa expressed the gratitude of the association to the organizers of the event and congratulate the participants saying, ” this is a very good way of rewarding excellence in our profession. We are very impressed with what we are seeing here today. We thank the organizer for providing this great platform for learning and education. We also congratulate our members who are participants in this contest, we are very proud of you all. It is a fact that you are all winners here today.,”
In his own remarks, one of the special guests of honour at the event, Dr. Sixtus Ozuomba, Chairman, Society for Family Physicians of Nigeria (SOFPON), Lagos State Chapter, also thanked the organizer of the event and promised the support of his association while another special guest at the event, Dr. Ibironke Shodende, President of Medical Women’s Association, Lagos State Chapter commended the organizers and in the same regard, promised the support of the association. “This is a fantastic programme, with this, Shalina Healthcare is breaking new grounds, it is very inspiring, very insightful and very motivating. Please continue with this and you are not to do it alone, we are with you.” She said.
Earlier, welcoming the guests and participants to the event, the Vice President/Head, Shalina West Africa, Arun Raj, said the idea of Rising Star was not just to give back to the people, but also to straighten the medical profession.” It provides an opportunity for medical professionals to sharpen their analytical skills and also provides a forum that offers guiding tips to upcoming specialists from senior experts.” He said. Pharm Folorunso Alaran, the Head of Corporate Marketing at Shalina Healthcare and the lead organizer of the Shalina Rising Stars Award explained that ‘it is a great feat getting this done. The Shalina Rising Star Award is one of the many value-added initiatives by Shalina Healthcare designed to drive her corporate purpose of ensuring quality healthcare delivery to all Africans. Many of these initiatives are currently ongoing” The Shalina Rising Stars Award is a programme for Nigerian resident doctors, where interested participants would present unique medical case reports. This first edition received over sixty (60) entries across the Nigerian six geopolitical zones from resident doctors across various institutions such as Federal Medical Centers, Teaching Hospitals, and Specialists Hospitals among others, which were carefully assessed by some appointed renowned specialists. Twelve (12) entries made it to the grand final…
