By Rotimi Odofin
In a bid to enhance communication skills and promote nursing excellence and compassionate leadership, the Kogi State Ministry of Health has organized a state-level Essay and Speech Contest for student nurses. This initiative reflects on the enduring vision of Florence Nightingale and aims to inspire future leaders in the nursing profession.
During the event held in Lokoja, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, the Kogi State Coordinating Commissioner for Health, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Steven Momoh Aziz, encouraged nursing students to serve as exemplary ambassadors for the state through their communication skills and public speaking. He emphasized that the annual event is designed to bolster the communication abilities and professional capacity of nursing students as they prepare to enter the workforce. Dr. Adeiza commended the Directorate of Nursing Services within the Ministry of Health for organizing the event and assured them of continued government support to further develop the contest.
In her address, Mrs. Martina Oguche, Director of Nursing Services at the Kogi State Ministry of Health, praised the participating nursing institutions for successfully conducting their internal competitions and presenting their top three contestants at the state-level event. She highlighted that their participation is a testament to academic excellence, intellectual discipline, and professional dedication.
Mrs. Oguche emphasized that the program extends beyond mere competition, representing a strategic investment in the future of nursing practice and leadership in Kogi State and Nigeria as a whole. She noted that the theme of the contest is both timely and instructive. Over 160 years ago, Florence Nightingale revolutionized nursing, transforming it from a vocation of goodwill into a profession rooted in evidence, discipline, compassion, and leadership. She believed in the power of sound observation and data,Human care has the potential to save lives, and history has consistently validated this belief.
She noted that today’s nursing practice is increasingly complex. We face emerging diseases, health system constraints, workforce shortages, and rising public expectations. In this context, evidence-based practice is not optional; it is essential. Nurses must possess the ability to think critically, evaluate research, communicate ideas effectively, and translate knowledge into safe and compassionate care.
However, technical competence alone is insufficient. Compassionate leadership remains the essence of nursing. Leadership in nursing transcends titles or positions; it is demonstrated through patient advocacy, ethical decision-making, teamwork, respect for dignity, and the courage to advocate for quality and safety in healthcare delivery.
She urged participants to uphold professionalism, originality, and integrity in their presentations. Their work should reflect not only academic knowledge but also a profound understanding of the realities of healthcare delivery in their respective communities.
Other speakers at the event also praised the Directorate of Nursing Services for supporting initiatives that promote academic excellence, leadership development, and evidence-informed nursing practice.
The Contest has been mandated by the nursing and midwifery council of Nigeria and the two best contestants from the exercise in the state will processed to the zonal level Contest and the successful one from each zone will go for the National Contest
