Friday Odum has emerged winner of the 2021 ISN Medical Laboratory Scientist of the Year award at a ceremony held on November 26, 2021 at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Friday Odum is a medical laboratory scientist working with Clina-Lancet Laboratories, Lagos. The award celebrates his commitment to excellence and his drive for quality in medical laboratory practice.
The award was instituted in 2020 by ISN Products Nigeria Limited, the leading supplier of medical diagnostic products and services in Nigeria, to recognise and reward the unsung heroes of medical practice in Nigeria.
For emerging the winner of the award’s second edition, Mr. Friday Odum receives a cash prize of One Million Naira (₦1,000,000.00), a capacity development training, and a Medical Lab Equipment/Reagents donation worth One Million Naira to the Laboratory where he works.
Ndukwe Kelechi from Everight Diagnostics and Laboratory Services Limited, Abuja, emerged the first runner-up going home with a cash prize of Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (₦750, 000.00) and a Capacity Development Training opportunity.
Gabriel Oke, an employee of the National Hospital, Abuja, emerged as the second runner-up, winning a cash prize of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (₦500, 000.00) and a Capacity Development Training opportunity.
The other seven finalists were rewarded with a cash prize of ₦200 000.00 each.
Speaking at the grand finale, Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Akin Abayomi, who was represented by the Director, Medical Laboratory Services, Lagos Health Service Commission, Tajudeen Olatunji, expressed profound appreciation to ISN for the laudable initiative, which he noted would boost morale and drive excellence service delivery in medical laboratory profession in Nigeria.
In his welcome address, the Managing Director of ISN Products Nigeria Limited, Felix Ofungwu, stated that ISN initiated the award to celebrate quality medical laboratory practice and recognize laboratory scientists for their contribution to Nigeria’s healthcare delivery.
According to Mr. Ofungwu, the need for medical laboratory scientists in the health care sector became more important, particularly when the world, including Nigeria, was confronted with the rampaging effect of the different variants of the COVID-19 virus.
In his goodwill message, the President, Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), Tosan Erhabor, represented by the Head, Zonal Officer, South West, Offutalu Paulinus, noted that medical laboratory scientists play a significant role in health care delivery ecosystem. He said that all the top 10 finalists should regard themselves as heroes.
While praising ISN for being a trailblazer, courageously celebrating excellence among practitioners, the President, Association of Medical Laboratory Scientist of Nigeria (AMLSN), James Damen, a professor, who was represented by its 2nd Vice President, South West, Adebo David, stated that the professional body is looking forward to a collaboration that will not only deepen knowledge in the area of research but help to advance the cause of the profession in Nigeria.
Shortly after being announced the winner of the second edition of the award, Mr. Friday Odum applauded ISN for its steadfast commitment to quality medical laboratory practice in Nigeria. He stated that the company’s contributions are evident in recognition of excellence through the initiative and the requisite training needed in advanced diagnostic techniques obtained in contemporary medical laboratory practice.
Also, at the event, one of the profession’s leading lights, a lecturer and author of repute, John Ochei, was conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award to promote quality medical laboratory practice in Nigeria.
About ISN Products Nigeria Limited
ISN Products Nigeria Limited is the leading supplier of medical diagnostic products and services in Nigeria. ISN is committed to providing the highest quality as the authorized agent and distributor for Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Merck Millipore, BD, Mindray, Illumina, and a host of other world-class medical equipment manufacturers medical solutions that exceed the expectations of our customers. Its mission is to give healthcare practitioners and patients peace of mind through innovative medical diagnostic solutions.
Over the last four decades, ISN has grown rapidly and established itself as a leader in the medical diagnostics distribution business with a nationwide presence and ten offices across Nigeria. ISN has also expanded into numerous product and service segments, including diabetes care, pharmaceutical products distribution, cold chain storage, and distribution, biomedical engineering services, and, most recently, sequencing and genotyping solutions.
