New Endo champions emerge as winners of 10rh ESGN essay competition announced

By Admin 

For many  secondary school  students in Nigeria, the word "endometriosis" was unfamiliar just a few years ago.

Today, however, there are several champions of awareness of this medical condition that affects millions of women worldwide, yet remains poorly understood and frequently misdiagnosed.

During the unveiling of winners of the 2026 Endometriosis Support Group Nigeria (ESGN) essay competition, health advocates urged the students to use the knowledge gained from the contest to educate their peers and communities about endometriosis.

The competition, in its 10th year, focused on the topic "Challenges of Living with Endometriosis," and produced three standout winners: Princess Adewumi Boluwatigba of Methodist Girls High School, Yaba, emerged overall winner.

 Ashake Khabeerat Emmanuel of Canon James Pearse Anglican College, Gbagada, Lagos finished as first runner-up even as Sarah Falowo Titilope of Vetland Senior Grammar School, Agege, Lagos was second runner-up.

According to ESGN, the emergence of the winners represents academic achievement and the rise of a new generation of Endo advocates.

For the winners themselves,  what started as an essay-writing exercise evolved into a mission to challenge misconceptions, encourage conversations about menstrual health and help ensure that fewer women suffer in silence because of a lack of awareness.

They all agreed that the real victory was being in position to help spread awareness about endometriosis that often leaves women suffering for years before receiving a diagnosis.

Speaking during the event, ESGN founder and MD/CEO of  Nordica Fertility Centre, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, said the competition was designed to expose students to the important health issue while encouraging critical thinking and research.

"Many of you had probably never heard the word endometriosis before this competition, but by researching, learning and writing about it, you have contributed to raising awareness and expanding knowledge about the condition."

Ajayi said every participant had  contributed to the growing body of public knowledge about endometriosis by taking the time to understand and write about the disease.

"The earlier endometriosis is recognised, the better the chances of managing it effectively. The eye cannot see what the mind does not know, doctors must first be aware of endometriosis before they can identify it,” he said, noting that  awareness remains the most powerful tool in identifying the condition early.

The Clinic Manager, Nordica Lagos and ESGN Matron, Mrs Tola Ajayi said young people are uniquely positioned to lead awareness campaigns, particularly through social media platforms and peer-to-peer engagement.

"Charity begins at home. The first audience should be your own school community," she noted, stressing that educating young people remains critical because awareness can help girls recognise symptoms early and seek appropriate medical attention.

"A few years ago, endometriosis was a condition very few people talked about, today, awareness has improved, but we still need to focus on young girls and women, she said."

In the view of the Chief Operating Officer, Nordica Lagos, Dr. Tosin Adeniyi, the competition's most important achievement was the creation of a new crop of endometriosis champions equipped to take the message into classrooms, homes and communities across Nigeria.