Babatope Okeowo 
The University of Ibadan (UI) Oyo State has won the best institution in the 2024 undergraduate nursing category while one of the students won the undergraduate research challenge organized by a research organization.
The premier university and 52 others had submitted entries of their five best academic projects for the two categories of the award eleven weeks ago.
At the award ceremony, both the university and one of the students, Faith Olaniyi, were presented with a cheque of #1 million each for coming victorious in the competition organized by Golden Lamp Leadership Initiative Africa in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
The founder of the Golden Lamp Leadership Initiative Africa, Mrs Oluyemisi Otitoloju, noted that the whole idea was conceptualized about four months ago to promote excellence in leadership, support innovative skills in health-based organizations, and invest in research-based training among others in the health sector.
Otitoloju said the goal of the awards is to catch them young and motivate young nurses for leadership roles also used the occasion to applaud the participants for being outstanding students in the field of nursing.
In a keynote address at the event, Prof.Omolola. Irinoye, the Vice Chancellor of Achiever’s University, Owo, identified new horizons in Nursing Research, stressing that times are fast changing, thus the need for rapid response.
According to her, there is a need to improve patient outcomes, enhance healthcare quality, and address emerging healthcare challenges, among others, as Research has become increasingly central to addressing such key issues.
On research priorities in health and healthcare, Prof. Irinoye underscored the importance of forging ahead as professionals through knowledge upgrades for community and global impact.
She commended the organization for coming up with the initiative which she described as the first of its kind in Nigeria.
She charged the students to stay focused on improving their skills towards achieving world best practices.
The guest lecturer, Mr. Olawale Stephen from Osun State University, while speaking on the topic: “Leveraging on Technology in Academic Research,” observed that technology had revolutionized the landscape of academic research from data collection to analysis and dissemination.
In her remarks, one of the board members, Dr. Juliana Afemikhe, an Associate Professor from the University of Benin described the summit as apt just as she expressed optimism that it will further equip the students to become better Nurses.
The coordinator for the project, Mrs. Bukola Oladeji, said the projection is to have a bigger package by the next outing as plans are underway to take the contest to other parts of the country.
She also expressed optimism that the contests would keep young nurses on their toes to be better at what they do in service to humanity.
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