Dear Mansagian,
This year has started with a bang! In early January, Dr. Tega Edokpolor and Ms. Fatima Adamu-Biu organised an interview skills session for many of our colleagues preparing for their Paediatric Specialty GRID interview. It was a privilege to be part of the huge effort that goes in to supporting our members, giving them feedback, and guiding them through the pitfalls that can mar their performance at the GRID interviews. My congratulations to all those who were successful at the recent announcements and very best of luck in your chosen specialty careers.
MANSAG Manchester held its end of year (– or start of year!) party at the popular Nigeria Restaurant, Roots Manchester on Sunday 8 February organised by Mr Theo Asumu the Chapter lead. This was quickly followed by a planning meeting with colleagues in Wales for re-establishing MANSAG Wales Chapter and a meeting led by Chapter Chair, Dr Mudashiru Salami to confirm the first event to be hosted by the newly established MANSAG Scotland. Over the course of the first quarter of this year, many of the regional chapters will be organising events online and in person to support the community and welfare of our members whilst also signposting them to resources that will be of benefit to them.
I’m sure you would have seen the posters of the upcoming MANSAG Education Symposium, Galadima Lecture and Charity Ball scheduled for Saturday 2 May 2026 In Newcastle. Dr Udoka Onyechere, an NHS Leadership Fellow in Northeast England is leading the Organising Committee and has already done a fantastic job with designing an inspiring programme to be delivered at a fabulous venue. As always, the symposium is where we will announce our MANSAG Travel Fellowships for 2026. This year we are also introducing nominations for MANSAG Research Awards to inspire our budding researchers and recognise established researchers in our midst. Please do nominate yourself or someone you know as soon as the call for nominations is published.
Other events planned for our members include a Research Awareness session in late February by the Research and Academy Committee, A Meet & Greet Event by MANSAG London and a webinar by the MANSAG Leadership Academy. Please watch out for invitations to these events and register for them.
MANSAG continues to engage with our colleagues in Nigeria as part of our diaspora health systems strengthening efforts. On Wednesday 18 February the Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission Hon Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa OON hosted a National Press Conference signaling the start of activities that will be rolled out as part of the Diaspora Health Impact Initiative 2026. MANSAG has a significant role to play in in this initiative, developing programmes to train health care professional in primary and secondary care across all the 33 states with high maternal and neonatal mortality to crash those rates. We have already started this process with an online webinar on 31 Jan led by Mr. Fidelis Ilevbare on Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy. More seminars are planned and we intend to prepare members that intend to visit Nigeria for onsite training with the specific skill sets they would need to deliver an impactful programme in Nigeria. Please email info@mansag.org if you are interested in being part of this programme.
Important dates for your diary:
- Tuesday, 24 February 2026: MANSAG Research Series Online with Professor Ifeanyi Okike
- Sunday, 1 March 2026: MANSAG Scotland Regional Event with Dr. Mudashiru Salami
- Wednesday, 18 March 2026: State visit of H. E. President Bola Tinubu to the UK with H.E. The High Commissioner of Nigeria to UK
- Saturday, 2 May 2026: MANSAG Annual Education Symposium and Charity Ball at Gateshead, Newcastle with Dr. Udoka Onyechere
- 17 July to 25 July 2026: Diaspora Health Impact Initiative 2026 at Abuja, Nigeria with Mr. Alexander Oboh
As the days lengthen and become brighter, after the cold dark (and very wet) winter, we cannot but hunger for a sense of rebirth in the coming days. Many of us may be observing Lent or Ramadan as part of their renewal and revitalisation efforts. Please ensure you take care of your self and follow the appropriate guidelines published by your organisation.
And finally,
It was good to learn that the efforts we are making to strengthen our regional teams has not gone unnoticed as you can see from this email from Dr. Fehintola Runsewe to the MANSAG secretariat; ‘I left the meeting feeling encouraged by the structured efforts around welfare, education, and regional development. The prospect of establishing a MANSAG Wales Chapter is truly exciting, and there is strong potential to build a vibrant and impactful presence here’.
I hope you feel as excited and as reinvigorated as this member makes me feel with those words as MANSAG gears up for a very impactful year for our members at chapter, national and international stages…. and for the world around us in 2026.
Until next time
Remain Blessed
Jide,
Dr. Jide Menakaya
President, MANSAG
#MANSAGisMINE
