A leading Afro-focus multinational company, Shalina Healthcare, the organizers of Shalina Rising Stars Award has stated that the “company is setting an unprecedented pace in strengthening medical education and in promoting enduring partnerships in the pharmaceutical industry. ”

Speaking at the Grand Finale of the third edition of the contest in Lagos on Tuesday, the Head Corporate Marketing of the company, Folorunso Alaran said, “Shalina Rising Stars Award, which is a major platform for medical professionals to showcase their clinical talents has come a long way to promote intellectual development in the medical profession.”

According to him; “The Company has gone from mere selling of its products, to creating platforms for learning and capacity building in the industry. The pan-Nigeria event for resident doctors and young fellows is one of its kind in the country.”

On the process of the contest, Alaran said further that: “the initial stage of season 3 which kicked off at the Federal Medical Center, Bida, Niger State on December 6th 2023 took the organising team to 16 Nigerian medical institutions across the six geopolitical zones and ended on March 7th 2024 at the National Orthopedic Hospital Igbobi, Lagos, where a total number of 175 dissertations were presented at the end of the qualifiers. One winner emerged from each institution qualifier respectively. The winners are here today for the Grand Finale.”

At the keenly contested Grand Finale, Dr. Lere Oluwadare of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, emerged the Grand Prize Winner while Dr. Josephine Onumaku of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital emerged the First Runner Up and Dr. Maryam Abdullahi of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital emerged the Second Runner Up, winning a cash prizes of one million naira, five hundred thousand naira and three hundred thousand naira respectively.

Meanwhile, in her opening remarks, the Managing Director, Shalina Healthcare, Nigeria, Mrs. Opeyemi Akinyele, congratulated all the participants for making it to the final stage saying; ”being the overall winners in your respective institutions is a great achievement and we wish you continue to do what makes you stand out and brings you to this stage.” Corroborating the MD in his speech, Arun Raj, Chief Commercial Officer, Shalina Healthcare West Africa also commended all the participants; “You are here because you are the best in the country.” He said.

The event which had the trio of Prof Adamu Samalia of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Dr. Afiong Oku of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar; and Professor Stephen Ikuerowo of Lagos State University College of Medicine as members of the panel of assessors had a good number of distinguished personalities in medical profession in attendance, which include Dr. Adegbenga Ademolu, the Representative of Chief Medical Director, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Professor Adetokunbo B. Fabanwo and Dr. Samuel Adebayo, the National Secretary, National Guild of Medical Directors, Nigeria.