Melody Olajide Oluwatunmise, a 400-level medical student of the University of Ibadan and a member of the UIMSA Press, has emerged winner of the 2026 Concept Academy National Intercollegiate Medical Essay Competition, clinching the grand prize of ₦1 million.
Melody emerged first among 1,556 applicants who participated in the competition, which was organised by The Concept Academy to encourage critical thinking, innovation and meaningful contributions towards the future of healthcare in Africa.
The competition, themed “Artificial Intelligence, Telemedicine, and the Future of Patient Care in Africa,” challenged medical students across Nigerian medical universities and colleges to explore the potential of emerging technologies in addressing healthcare challenges across the continent.The grand finale, held yesterday, 31st of October, 2026, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, featured distinguished medical professionals, including Dr Adekunle Ashimi, Dr Olutope Grace Bajomo and Dr Olusina Ajidahun, as invited speakers.
As the overall winner, Melody received a cash prize of ₦1 million. Godswill Chidubem Uzoechina emerged second, receiving ₦500,000, while Aremu Enoch Abidemi secured third place with a cash prize of ₦250,000.
In addition to the cash prizes, the top three contestants were awarded plaques, while the top 20 participants received certificates and six-month subscriptions to The Concept Academy’s USMLE preparation package.
Reacting to his emergence as the overall winner, Melody described the experience as a humbling one, giving glory to God for the achievement. He also encouraged fellow students to continue putting themselves forward for opportunities, while expressing appreciation to the sponsor and founder of The Concept Academy, Dr Babarinde Oluseye Festus, for providing young medical students with a platform to contribute to discussions on the future of medicine in Nigeria and Africa.