Dr. Elizabeth Folashade is the Grand Prize winner of the Shalina Rising Stars Award, a one-of-a-kind platform for medical professionals to showcase their Clinical Talents. Taiwo, a resident doctor at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital in Abuja, has lauded Shalina Healthcare, a leading pharmaceutical company, for its contributions to the development of the medical profession in Nigeria, saying that “the company is rewarding the work of medical practitioners in the country with excellence.” This was announced on Tuesday during the Shalina Rising Stars Award Season 2 Grand Finale and Prize Presentation in Lagos.
After receiving the ultimate award of one million naira, Taiwo stated, “The program is unprecedented in the country, and the company must be appreciated as well as encouraged for its determination to positively contribute to the development and growth of the medical profession in the country.”Prof. Akinsanya Olaide Oshinbogun of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, represented by the institution’s Deputy Registrar (Senate and Governing Board), Dr. Salami Sule, thanked the company and acknowledged the program’s goal of celebrating the best minds in the medical profession in his welcome address. “I commend Shalina not only for its high-quality, low-cost medicines but also for its contributions to the Nigerian medical profession through capacity building and learning.” He stated this.
The program, which emphasized the presentation of unique case studies, drew 116 applications from 38 tertiary schools spread across the country’s six geopolitical zones. The grand finals were attended by 12 of the 100 candidates who were shortlisted.
Dr. Elizabeth Taiwo received the grand prize, while Dr. Joy Oluchukwu Ugwuanyi of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu and Dr. Fawale Abiola Musiliudeen of the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Igbobi, Lagos received the first and second runners-up prizes of 500,000 and 400,000 naira, respectively. Participants from fourth to twelfth place also earned monetary awards.
Meanwhile, Arun Raj, the company’s Chief Operating Officer, West Africa (Pharma) Business Operations, stressed earlier in his welcome remarks that “the initiative is not a competition but a platform for knowledge sharing and celebration of clinical talents.”
Arun went on to say, “Last year’s experience was amazing and very encouraging.” We are thrilled to be recruiting the best and brightest in the country. We are passionately devoted to making a meaningful contribution to Africa’s healthcare service. From selling to learning, we are also glad to be a source of pride for our customers.”
