Toluwani Kasumu of Anglican Comprehensive College, Ipapa, Lagos has emerged the overall winner of the 2024 Endometriosis Support Group, Nigeria (ESGN) Essay Competition.
Oyefunmilayo Ireoluwa Oloyode also of Anglican Comprehensive College came second, Sharon Evbota of Dabitos College, Mushin came third.
The theme for this year’s competition, which is its 8th edition, is ‘Endometriosis Advocacy: the role of young women in driving change’.
While Toluwani Kasumu was rewarded with ₦100,000 for her effort, Oloyode and Evbota got ₦75,000 and ₦50,000 respectively for their efforts.
Also, Kasumu won a desktop computer with UPS for her school courtesy of her coming tops in the competition.
Speaking during award presentation in Lagos, the ESGN Patron and Medical Director, Nordica Fertility Centre, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, who was elated with the attendance of the principal, vice principal of the winning schools and parents of the pupils, said their presence at the ceremony has given him and his organisation a reason to continue with the competition.
“It tells me we are taking a step in the right direction. I have started getting weary about it.”
He, nonetheless, noted that through the competition and other initiatives awareness about Endometriosis has improved. According to him, the competition was created because many Nigerians are not aware of endometriosis aside that students were targeted so that they could be advocates.
One of the judges, Mr. Osayande Omo-Osagie, said the idea is to take the message and awareness about endometriosis to the grassroots. According to him, tons of entries were received and each was perused to ensure that the best were picked.
Kasumu said that she was inspired to participate in the competition because a former Head girl of her school was once a winner. She thanked the organizers as the competition has made her to be enlightened about Endometriosis.
