Ogun Clinches NGF’s $400,000 Healthcare Leadership Award

Ogun State has secured a $400,000 healthcare leadership award after finishing as first runner-up in the South-West zone at the third edition of the Primary Health Care Leadership Challenge Award organised by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

The award, which carries a $400,000 cash prize, aims to promote excellence, accountability and innovation in primary healthcare delivery across Nigeria.

Commenting on the achievement, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, described the recognition as an affirmation of the targeted investments and reforms introduced by the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun, particularly within the primary healthcare sector.

She said the government’s emphasis on strengthening healthcare at the grassroots had led to notable improvements in service delivery across the state, adding that Ogun’s performance reflected a strong commitment to the health and wellbeing of its people.

“This award is dedicated to our hardworking governor, His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun, whose strategic health sector reforms have prioritised access to quality healthcare, especially at the primary level,” Coker stated.

According to her, the rehabilitation, upgrading and equipping of primary healthcare centres across the state’s 20 local government areas have contributed to significant gains in maternal, newborn and child health outcomes.

She also noted that the state had invested heavily in human capital through the recruitment and continuous training of doctors, nurses, midwives and community health workers to deliver efficient and patient-focused care. In addition, she said the expansion of the Ogun State Health Insurance Scheme had helped reduce out-of-pocket expenses while improving access to affordable healthcare, particularly for vulnerable and underserved groups.

Coker added that the NGF-backed award would further motivate the state to sustain ongoing reforms and deepen investments geared towards achieving universal health coverage.

In a separate remark, the Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr Elijah Ogunsola, said the honour reflected strong leadership, effective coordination and teamwork across the state’s primary healthcare system.

He explained that the board had implemented key initiatives to revitalise primary healthcare centres, strengthen disease surveillance, improve routine immunisation and enhance community participation across the state.

Ogunsola added that improvements in key health indicators were driven by data-informed planning, robust monitoring mechanisms, collaboration with local government chairmen and partnerships with development agencies and other stakeholders.

The Primary Health Care Leadership Challenge Award recognises states that demonstrate innovation, accountability and political commitment to strengthening primary healthcare nationwide.

Ogun State’s zonal runner-up position and accompanying $400,000 prize further underscore its growing profile as a model for sub-national leadership in healthcare delivery under the Abiodun administration.