Precious Ifunanya Osuji has emerged winner of the second edition of the Samuel Ewelike Best Achievers Award (SEBAA), a prestigious honour established to recognise outstanding final-year pharmacy students in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT).
The award process for the second edition was conducted through a rigorous, multi-stage evaluation designed to identify excellence in academics, leadership, research innovation, and professional ethics among graduating pharmacy students. The maiden edition of the SEBAA, for the 2023/2024 academic session, was won by Adanna Thelma Obodoh.
Speaking in an interview with Pharmanewsonline,, the Head of the SEBAA Committee and Founder of the award, Pharm. Samuel Ewelike, explained that the process began with an initial assessment of all applicants. He said the selection committee shortlisted six candidates following a tie at the fifth position, expanding the usual list of five finalists.
According to him, the finalists were subjected to a 30-minute interview conducted by a seven-member panel made up of three internal and four external judges. The internal assessors evaluated academic excellence, ethical practice, and research innovation, while the external judges focused on industry advancement, global health epidemiology, leadership, and collaboration.
Ewelike disclosed that a weighted scoring system was adopted to ensure balance and objectivity, with internal assessments accounting for 30 per cent and external evaluations contributing 70 per cent of the total score. He added that an additional open-question segment, handled by a seventh judge, tested candidates’ spontaneity, depth of thought, and professional comportment.
At the conclusion of the interviews, all scores were collated and ranked, with Osuji emerging first overall, while James Igatta was named first runner-up. The committee noted that the winner demonstrated a consistently strong and well-balanced performance across all assessed domains, particularly in the externally weighted areas.
In recognition of her achievement, Osuji received a cash prize of ₦150,000, alongside a Certificate of Award and a formal Letter of Award. In a notable development, the committee also approved a ₦55,000 cash prize for the first runner-up, in addition to a Certificate and Letter of Award, marking the first time such recognition has been extended.
The awards were presented during the faculty’s induction ceremony, held recently in the presence of faculty members, students, and other stakeholders in the pharmaceutical profession. The committee said the initiative is aimed at motivating excellence and healthy competition among pharmacy students.
Accepting her appointment as Custodian of SEBAA, Dr Ndidiamaka Hannah Okorie, head of the Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, ESUT, thanked Pharm. Ewelike for the confidence reposed in her and assured the committee of her commitment to discharge the responsibility with dedication. She expressed readiness to work closely with the International Award Committee to ensure the award’s standards and core values are sustained.
Dr Okorie also congratulated Osuji as the second recipient of the award, describing her academic performance, discipline, and character as a true reflection of the ideals the award seeks to promote. She said Osuji’s achievements would continue to inspire her peers and upcoming students within the faculty.
Members of the judging panel were drawn from Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, with expertise spanning community pharmacy, public health, academia, industry, and global health practice. They included Pharm. Tobechukwu Nneji, Plus and Gina Pharmacy, Lagos State, Nigeria; Pharm. Ezema Chijioke, Robert Gordwin University, Scotland, United Kingdom (ESUT Pharmacy Alumni); Pharm. Samuel Ewelike, Substance Abuse Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), New York City, United States of America (ESUT Pharmacy Alumni); Pharm. Brenden Uche, University of Surrey, London, United Kingdom; Mrs Kalpana Bhattarai, University of New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America; Ms Dumebi Uzoho, Health Safety Specialist, Amazon, Connecticut, United States of America; and Dr Jude Onojah, Howard University, Washington, DC, United States of America.
Speaking after receiving the award, Osuji expressed gratitude for the honour, describing it as more than an academic milestone. She said it reaffirmed the values of dedication, service, and consistency, and strengthened her commitment to pharmaceutical care beyond medicine dispensing, with emphasis on patient education, leadership, innovation, and service.
The SEBAA Committee stated that the second edition of the award reflects its continued commitment to nurturing future pharmacy leaders who will contribute meaningfully to healthcare delivery and national development.
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