MEGA LIFESCIENCES – SOGHIN YOUNG TRAINEE AWARD 2024

The Society for Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Nigeria (SOGHIN), in collaboration with our industrial partner (Mega Lifesciences), hereby invites interested members to apply for the Maiden Annual SOGHIN Young Trainee Award for young Fellows and Senior Trainee (Residents) who are post-Part 1 (associate Fellows) as follows:

Criteria for Category 1 – Young Trainee Award (National)
This category of award is meant to support young trainees or young fellows undergoing clinical attachment in centers of excellence and/or attending national conferences/short courses. This category will provide assistance to the beneficiary of up to Naira equivalent of one thousand dollars ($1,000).

The criteria for consideration for selection include:

  1. Age < 35 years.
  2. Passed the Part 1 Exams of the National Postgraduate Medical College (NPMC) or West African Postgraduate Medical College (WAPMC), OR passed the Part 2 Exams of either college not more than two years earlier.
  3. Be in good financial standing with SOGHIN.
  4. Must have attended two consecutive AGMs of the Society.
  5. No other beneficiary from the same center of training or practice in the same award year.
  6. Evidence of registration for a conference to be attended or letter of acceptance for clinical attachment or short course.
  7. Evidence of acceptance of either a poster or oral abstract for presentation at a conference will be an added advantage.
  8. Sign an undertaking to use the funds for the purpose stated and provide evidence of attendance at the conference or certificate of completion of clinical attachment or short course as may be appropriate.

Criteria for Category 2 – Young Trainee Award (International)
This category of award is meant to support the young trainee or young fellow attending an international conference relevant to SOGHIN. This will provide assistance to the beneficiary of up to two thousand US dollars ($2,000).

The criteria for consideration for selection include:

  1. Age < 35 years.
  2. Passed the Part 1 Exams of the National or West African Postgraduate Medical College, OR passed the Part 2 Exams of either college not more than two years earlier.
  3. Be in good financial standing with SOGHIN.
  4. Must have attended two consecutive AGMs of the Society.
  5. No other beneficiary from the same center of training or practice in the same award year.
  6. Evidence of registration for a conference to be attended or letter of acceptance for clinical attachment or short course.
  7. Evidence of acceptance of either a poster or oral abstract for presentation at a conference will be an added advantage.
  8. Sign an undertaking to use the funds for the purpose stated and provide evidence of attendance at the conference or certificate of completion of clinical attachment or short course as may be appropriate.

Method of Application

  1. All applications are to be submitted to the SOGHIN Secretary (soghinsecretary@gmail.com, smaiyaki1@gmail.com, samailaaa@yahoo.com, samailaaa2@gmail.com).
  2. Applicants are required to submit a written application letter and attach supportive documents. Support documents must include:
  3. a. The most recent CV.
    b. A mission statement to support their application indicating its relevance to the practice of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, which must not exceed 250 words.
    c. Two support letters: one from the Head of Department or supervising consultant and another from a member of SOGHIN. For fellows, only the HOD letter is required.
    d. Evidence of payment of annual dues.

  4. The Secretary of the SOGHIN Young Fellows Award Committee should acknowledge each application received via an email to applicants not later than February 28, 2025.
  5. Only one successful applicant will be selected for each category of application.
  6. Successful applicants shall be informed formally by the Award Committee and announced during the 2025 AGM of SOGHIN.
  7. If, for any reason, a beneficiary of an award cannot utilize the award after it has been officially granted and presented, the Award Committee shall select a standby backup awardee from the pool of applicants to reward accordingly.