Yobe State Clinches Top Honours at National Primary Health Care Awards
Abuja, Nigeria – Yobe State has been recognized as the overall best-performing state in strengthening primary healthcare services, earning the grand prize at the third edition of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) National Primary Health Care (PHC) Leadership Challenge Awards. The prestigious event, held in Abuja, celebrated the dedication and progress of states in enhancing healthcare delivery at the grassroots level.
The awards ceremony, a collaborative effort between the NGF, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and UNICEF, with crucial support from the Gates Foundation, aims to foster accountability and healthy competition among states. This initiative is designed to drive tangible improvements in health outcomes and the quality of care accessible to all Nigerians.
Yobe State’s exceptional commitment saw them awarded a grand prize of $700,000. This was in addition to their win as the Zonal Best Performing State for the North-East, which came with a prize of $500,000, bringing their total winnings to an impressive $1.2 million.
Zonal Recognition and Prize Distribution
Beyond the overall winner, the awards also celebrated excellence across all six geopolitical zones. Each Zonal Best Performing State received $500,000. The first runners-up in the overall best-performing state category were awarded $400,000 each.
The states recognized for their outstanding performance in their respective zones included:
- North-East:
- Overall Best Performing: Yobe State
- First Runner-up: Gombe State
- North-Central:
- Best Performing: Nasarawa State
- First Runner-up: Kwara State
- North-West:
- Best Performing: Zamfara State
- First Runner-up: Kaduna State
- South-East:
- Best Performing: Abia State
- First Runner-up: Anambra State
- South-South:
- Best Performing: Rivers State
- First Runner-up: Bayelsa State
- South-West:
- Best Performing: Osun State
- First Runner-up: Ogun State
The total prize money distributed across all award categories amounted to $6.1 million. The NGF emphasized that these funds are intended to be reinvested by the winning states to further bolster their primary healthcare infrastructure, expand service delivery, and enhance their human resource capacity within the health sector.
Federal Government’s Vision and Vice President’s Message
Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented at the event by the Minister of Health, Dr. Ali Pate, extended his congratulations to all the winners. He lauded the state governors for their leadership and unwavering support in the collective pursuit of improved health outcomes for Nigerians.
The Vice President highlighted that initiatives like the PHC Leadership Challenge are pivotal in ensuring that “Nigeria wins.” He noted the significant progress witnessed in the health sector since the governors committed to a long-term compact with President Bola Tinubu two years ago under the National Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII). This initiative prioritizes the strengthening of the PHC system as the bedrock of universal health coverage.
“Between 2024 and now, we’ve seen 20 states surpassing their targets in 2024,” stated the Vice President, underscoring the tangible impact of these focused efforts. He also pointed to an increase in state budgetary allocations for health, with figures rising to approximately ₦2.6 billion compared to previous levels. The Vice President reiterated the fundamental truth that a healthy populace is indispensable for national development.
Vice President Shettima urged state governors to intensify their investments in healthcare, projecting that total health sector allocations should reach at least ₦3.5 trillion in the next fiscal year, leveraging the resources available to the states. He acknowledged that the affordability of healthcare services remains a significant challenge for many Nigerians. In response, he confirmed the Federal Government’s ongoing interventions aimed at reducing the costs of drugs, diagnostics, and medical tests, particularly for vulnerable populations. He stressed the critical need for state governments to actively support these federal efforts.
Looking towards the future, Vice President Shettima expressed optimism that within the next five years, Nigeria will achieve self-sufficiency in its health sector investments, thereby diminishing reliance on external aid.
Governors’ Commitments and Perspectives
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, speaking on behalf of the award-winning states, expressed profound gratitude for the initiative. He assured that the states are committed to raising the bar even higher in future endeavors.
“We see investment in health care as a necessary condition for people to survive in your states. So, we don’t think that this is money you are investing and tomorrow you will get a commission. It is an essential part of your life,” Governor Otti remarked, emphasizing the fundamental nature of healthcare spending.
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State shared his enthusiasm, confirming that the $500,000 awarded to his state will be reinvested in refurbishing primary healthcare centers across Zamfara. “It is very exciting to see someone recognising what you do and I will continue to do more. We were spending our own money, and this is additional fund, we are going to put the money in the PHC in Zamfara State,” he stated. Despite acknowledging inadequate funding as a persistent challenge, Governor Lawal affirmed the Zamfara State government’s unwavering commitment to prioritizing the health sector.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, noted the significance of the event occurring exactly two years after the landmark Health Sector Renewal Compact was signed by President Tinubu, the 36 Governors, and development partners.
Represented by the Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, the NGF Chairman highlighted the remarkable improvements observed across the federation over the past three editions of the awards. “The steady progress from the first to the second round—and now to the third—demonstrates clearly that when leadership is intentional and accountable, measurable and transformative change is possible,” he stated.
The NGF Chairman elaborated on the financial commitments made by the states, revealing that combined health budgets for the 36 states have grown substantially: from ₦831 billion in 2022 to ₦927 billion in 2023, ₦1.4 trillion in 2024, and a projected ₦2.36 trillion in 2025. Notably, 30% of these annual budgets are dedicated to Primary Health Care. These investments have begun to yield results, with observed reductions in institutional maternal mortality.
Furthermore, the NGF has introduced a series of scorecards to meticulously track state commitments and foster accountability in key health initiatives. An expanded scorecard, designed to monitor subnational commitments to the Health Sector Renewal Compact, is slated for release in 2026, facilitating transparent oversight by the governors.
Looking ahead, the NGF reaffirms its dedication to the aspirations of the Seattle Declaration. The progress achieved through the PHC Leadership Challenge serves as strong evidence that these commitments are not mere pronouncements but ongoing responsibilities being pursued with diligence and focus, ensuring that every Nigerian, irrespective of their location or circumstances, can access quality primary healthcare.
