McPherson University Emerges State Champion at Florence Nightingale Essay Competition

McPherson University (McU) has been crowned the overall winner of the Florence Nightingale Essay Competition in Ogun State, securing the top spot to represent the state at the upcoming South-West Zonal finals.

The prestigious competition, organized by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), returned after a decade-long hiatus to promote research, ethical standards, and compassionate leadership among nursing students. The 2026 theme was “Advancing Nursing Excellence through Evidence-Based Practice and Compassionate Leadership: Reflections on Florence Nightingale’s Enduring Vision.”

The state-level contest, held on January 29, 2026, in Abeokuta, featured 30 contestants from 10 nursing institutions across Ogun State. The rigorous selection process included:

Departmental Screening: McU narrowed down a pool of seven internal candidates to three top entries.

Five-Round Technical Quiz: Contestants were tested on Nursing Ethics, Management, Research, English, and Administration.

Final Essay Presentation: The top five students from the quiz phase advanced to the final oral presentation.

Samuel Ayebadiepriye Mary, a 500-level nursing student at McPherson University, delivered a stellar performance to emerge as the overall first-place winner.

The university team, led by Mrs. Abiola Adefolaju of the Faculty of Nursing Sciences, included:

Mr. Babalola Segun

Miss Olajumoke Ogunleye

Abiodun Ayooluwa Deborah

Edogun Uwagbale Dave

In a forward-thinking move, the university also included two junior students as observers to prepare them for future editions of the council-led competition.

The event was co-funded by the Ogun State Ministry of Health and the NMCN. High-level stakeholders in attendance included the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, the Permanent Secretary, and the Director of Nursing Services, all of whom underscored the importance of evidence-based practice in modern healthcare.

McPherson University management has confirmed that preparations have already commenced for the South-West Zonal Round as they aim for the national title.