The Nigeria Governors’ Forum has announced that states with outstanding performance in primary healthcare delivery will share a total of $6.1 million through the third edition of its Primary Health Care Leadership Challenge Awards. The awards, scheduled for Friday in Abuja, aim to recognize and reward exceptional leadership by state governors in strengthening primary healthcare services across the country.
According to the NGF Chairman, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, the Primary Health Care Leadership Challenge is a national initiative that celebrates results, rewards performance, and ultimately delivers better care for the people. The programme is organized by the NGF in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and UNICEF, with support from the Gates Foundation.
The challenge has become a symbol of what strong and accountable leadership can achieve in Nigeria’s health system. Thirteen awards will be presented at the event, including two awards per geopolitical zone covering ‘Best Performing’ and ‘Most Improved’ states, and one national award for the Overall Best Performing State. The award fund for this edition is $6.1 million, which will be reinvested by winning states directly into strengthening primary healthcare systems.
The challenge is rooted in the Seattle Declaration of 2019, unanimously adopted by all 36 state governors, which has served as a catalyst for stronger governance, improved financing, and greater accountability in the primary healthcare sector. Governors are assessed using a Performance Monitoring Framework jointly developed by primary healthcare stakeholders and endorsed by all states through their commissioners for health.
An independent judging panel, consisting of eminent public health professionals, academics, religious and traditional leaders, media representatives, and civil society organizations, reviews assessments conducted by independent verification agents recruited through the United Nations’ rigorous selection process. The PHC Leadership Challenge aims to fast-track commitments under the Seattle Declaration, reinforce political ownership of primary healthcare outcomes, improve transparency, promote peer learning, and track state progress under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative Compact.
The awards are significant as they recognize the efforts of state governments in improving primary healthcare delivery, which is critical to achieving universal health coverage in Nigeria. The $6.1 million award fund will go a long way in supporting the winning states to strengthen their primary healthcare systems, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for the people. The event is expected to promote healthy competition among states, encourage innovation, and foster collaboration in the primary healthcare sector.