To submit your essay entry, click HERE.
Submissions for the “2025 OCI Foundation-Auwal Shanono Literary Award for Medical Students (LAMS) Essay Competition” open on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
LAMS is an OCI Foundation-sponsored national essay competition for all medical students and all medical schools in Nigeria. Scroll down to see the essay topic, prizes, entry guidelines and tips on how to win.
The OCI Foundation (Nigeria) delivers LAMS in collaboration with the Nigerian Medical Students Association (NiMSA), the umbrella body of all medical students’ associations in Nigeria. It was an initiative borne out of the OCI Foundation President’s desire to inspire literary prowess among future Nigerian medical doctors. The President, Assoc Prof Chris Ifediora, was himself a one-time medical student in Nigeria.
Detailed reasons and rationale for the OCI Foundation’s involvement can be found HERE.
This is the Fifth “Nigerian National Edition”, having been held successfully in the past four years. The 2021 and 2022 national-level winners can be viewed at any time by clicking on the highlighted years. Pictures of some past winners are available here.
A “Regional Nigerian Version” that also exists, and enters its 6th edition in 2025. Students participating in the South-East Regional contest can still participate in the National one. Only one entry submitted to the email listed below from an eligible student automatically enrols the participant in both contests.
The “British and Australian Versions of LAMS” are being planned for all medical schools in the United Kingdom and Australia. A few details are captured HERE.
Seconds Matter: The Impact of Early CPR in Cardiac Emergencies and Justifying the OCI Foundation’s Plan to Empower All Nigerians through the “Basic Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Response Strategies (BACERS)” Project.
- Nigerian lives have been lost needlessly from sudden deaths resulting from collapses, accidents and other unfortunate issues. A big problem is that an overwhelming proportion of Nigerians are ill-equipped to respond properly in these life and death situations, with many lacking even the minimum knowledge of emergency resuscitation measures.
- To optimise knowledge levels and basic skills among Nigerians for responding during life-threatening emergencies, the OCI Foundation is now at advanced stages of introducing its so-called the “Basic Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Response Strategies (BACERS) for Nigerians”.
- The OCI Foundation aims to reach all Nigerians (aged 10 years or older) across all 36 states of the Federation and the FCT using BACERS measures that are comprehensive, sustainable, and cost-effective.
- The goal of BACERS is to ensure that a minimum of 50% of all targeted Nigerians gain the required knowledge and skills within two years of the program roll-out, with 75% achieving the same in five years.
To read/download an Essay Guide/Handbook developed by NiMSA, click HERE.
Participants must be students enrolled in any recognised medical school in Nigeria.
- First Prize: N150, 000 + Certificate + Membership of the OCI Foundation
- Second Prize: N100,000 + Certificate + Membership of the OCI Foundation
- Third Prize: N70,000 + Certificate + Membership of the OCI Foundation
- Seven Consolation Prizes: N20,000 each + Certificates + Membership of the OCI Foundation
- First Prize: N100, 000 + Certificate + Membership of the OCI Foundation
- Second Prize: N70,000 + Certificate + Membership of the OCI Foundation
- Third Prize: N50,000 + Certificate + Membership of the OCI Foundation
- Three Consolation Prizes: N20,000 each + Certificates + Membership of the OCI Foundation
- Sarduana AHMED (NiMSA President) – 08032294410
- Jewel OBI (NiMSA ASG 1) – 09064942315
- Barakat Oluwatofunmi AMINU (NiMSA ASG 3) – 09028775227
- Inaugural (2020) LAMS for South-East Nigerian Medical Schools: Click HERE.
- Inaugural (2020) National LAMS/Auwal Shanano Sponsored by the OCI Foundation: Click HERE.
- Regional LAMS 2020 winners: Click HERE.
- Expansion of LAMS to become a national project and cover all Nigerian medical schools: Click HERE.
- Appreciation Letters from Nigerian Medical Students: Click HERE.
