Onyebuchi Chris Ifediora (OCI) Foundation, an NGO, has announced the introduction of Literary Awards for Medical Students under its educational programme for undergraduates in South-East.
The President and Founder of OCI Foundation, Dr Chris Ifediora, stated in a statement in Onitsha that the foundation’s aim was to inspire medical students who possess traits of literary skills.
According to Ifediora, students from various medical schools in eight tertiary institutions would be eligible to compete for the award.
He said that the eligible students would partake in a literary essay competition with the theme “Back to the Future”.
“Thinking back to 2020, the essay seeks to know measures that can be put in place to ensure that the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic does not reoccur,” Ifediora said.
He noted that students were expected to submit essays of between 800 words and 1,000 words on the theme.
The submitted essays, according to Ifediora, would be assessed by a panel of judges that would comprise students drawn from each of the medical associations within the institutions.
He noted that the deadline for submission of the essay would be 11:59 p.m. of Aug.31.
“The judges will look out for creativity, relevance to the theme, originality, grammar and spelling,” he added.
According to him, cash rewards for the first, second and third positions have been designed to identify, inspire, and reward medical students who show literary dexterity.
Ifediora, a practising physician based in Australia, believes that literary skills among doctors could unlock huge potential that might significantly complement medical practice.
OCI foundation also organises annual scholarship programmes for brilliant but indigent secondary school students in Anambra who were preparing for their exit examinations.
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