By Idris Katib
Final-year students of the prestigious Crescent University, Abeokuta have topped the 2026 edition of Florence Nightingale Essay and Speech Contest held among nursing institutions in Ogun State.
Two contestants from Crescent University finished in the top five best at the final stage of the competition, with Roqeebat Onigbanjo coming second while Aishat Jubril placed fourth position respectively.
Overall, students from twelve institutions offering nursing in Ogun State submitted entries for the contest.
After stages of screening, thirty-three essays were shortlisted as Roqeebah Onigbanjo from Crescent University scored the highest points at this stage.
In the quiz category, 29 contestants advanced to the semifinal.
With this performance, Roqeebat Onigbanjo has been selected as one of the best two students to represent Ogun State at the zonal stage of the contest this year.
Crescent University, Abeokuta remains the only institution with two contestants in the last five selected.
Other institutions with one contestant each in the last five are McPherson University, School of Nursing, Ilaro and Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo.
Crescent University team was led by Head of Department of Nursing, Dr Shafiu Adewole Ademola, Nurse Aliu Toheeb with other student members of the team viz: Omolade Akinniyi, Mutmainah Olayiwola, Zainab Idris and Yusroh Olaaje.
Presenting the winners to the Proprietor and Chairman Board of Trustees, Prince Ma’aruf Adesegun Ajibola SAN, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Ibraheem Gbajabiamila and other members of the university management, Dr Ademola reported that contestants went through different rigorous stages involving essay writing, quiz and speech contest.
The creme of the health sector, including the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, witnessed the contest flavoured with an outstanding performance of nursing students across nursing institutions in Ogun State.
In the stage-by-stage scoring by the panel, team Crescent emerged in first position for essay writing, second and third position for the quiz and second and third in the speech contest.
The Proprietor Prince Ajibola while receiving the Crescent team, expressed his heartfelt congratulations to the head of department and the students for their stellar performance year in, year out.
It should be recalled that Dr. Shafiu Adewole ADEMOLA had won the 2002 edition of Florence Nightingale Speech Contest held in Akure, Ondo State.
