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Nordica Fertility Centre Plans To Make It A National Contest
In a remarkable display of intellectual prowess and advocacy, Toluwani Kasumu, a student of Anglican Comprehensive High School, Ipaja, emerged as the winner of the 2024 ESGN Essay Competition. Organized and sponsored by Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos, the competition, now in its 8th edition, focused on creating awareness about endometriosis and its impact on the lives of patients.
The theme for this year’s competition, “Endometriosis Advocacy: The Role of Young Students in Driving Change”, challenged female senior secondary school students to research and write compelling essays on the topic. Among the numerous submissions received, Kasumu’s essay stood out, earning her the prestigious top spot. Oyefinmilayo Ireoluwa Oloyede, also from Anglican Comprehensive High School, and Sharon Evbota of Dabitos College, Ilasamaja, clinched second and third places, respectively.
The winners were celebrated at a grand ceremony held on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at the Nordica Fertility Centre’s headquarters on Norman Williams Street, Ikoyi, Lagos. The event brought together students, parents, teachers, school administrators, and other stakeholders to recognize and applaud the young advocates.
Kasumu received a symbolic winner’s trophy along with a cash prize of ₦100,000, while Oloyede and Evbota were rewarded with ₦75,000 and ₦50,000, respectively. Additionally, Anglican Comprehensive High School, the winning school, was presented with a brand-new computer set as part of the prize package.
Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, the Managing Director and CEO of Nordica Fertility Centre, expressed his delight at the success of this year’s competition. In his address, he lauded the participants for their dedication, creativity, and insightful submissions. He remarked on the steady improvement in the quality of entries over the past eight years, attributing it to the growing awareness and understanding of endometriosis among young students.
Dr. Ajayi further emphasized Nordica Fertility Centre’s commitment to using the competition as a platform to educate the public about endometriosis, especially at the grassroots level. He also announced plans to expand the competition into a national event, allowing female students from all six geopolitical zones in Nigeria to participate in subsequent editions. This expansion, he noted, would help foster a broader reach and impact, ensuring that more young girls become advocates for this important cause.
The winners also shared their thoughts and experiences. Kasumu expressed her gratitude to Nordica Fertility Centre for the opportunity, stating that the research and writing process had been transformative. “This competition has opened my eyes to the realities of endometriosis and the challenges faced by patients. I am determined to use my voice to raise awareness and drive change,” she said.
Oloyede and Evbota echoed similar sentiments, with both students pledging to continue spreading awareness about endometriosis in their communities.
Parents, teachers, and school administrators present at the ceremony commended Nordica Fertility Centre for their consistent efforts in empowering young girls through the competition. Many expressed pride in their students’ achievements and noted the growing enthusiasm among students to participate in the annual event.
The ESGN Essay Competition has become a beacon of hope and education, inspiring young minds to become advocates for health-related causes. With plans to take it to a national level, Nordica Fertility Centre is not only empowering students but also creating a ripple effect of awareness about endometriosis across Nigeria.
