ANNUAL PHC LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE AWARD: OSUN STATE EMERGES SOUTH WEST CHAMPION FOR THE SECOND TIME IN A ROW, WINS $500,000.00 AWARD FUND

AKINTOLA EXTOLS HIS EXCELLENCY, SENATOR ADEMOLA ADELEKE, OTHERS.

It was double honour for Osun State on the 12th day of December, 2025, at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja; venue of the Annual Primary Health Care (PHC) Leadership Challenge Award; when the State emerged as the South West champion for the second time in a row, while Ogun State clinched the 2nd position. Only the duo of Osun and Yobe States successfully defended their last year's titles, as their peers in the Zonal Best Performing State award edition, lost their first positions to competing States this year.

The State Governor, His Excellency Senator Nurudeen Jackson Ademola Adeleke , ably represented by the Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Prince Kola Adewusi, received the prestigious award on behalf of the State. He was joined by the Honorable Commissioner for Health, Hon. (Barr.) Jola Moses Akintola and other relevant Stakeholders, in receiving the well deserved award and cheque of $500,000.00 being the award fund, amidst cheers and admiration from the highly elated audience.

The PHC Leadership Challenge is a collaborative initiative designed to incentivize and recognize exceptional leadership in the delivery of Primary Healthcare (PHC) services across Nigeria. Implemented by the Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF) in partnership with the UNICEF and National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), and supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF); the challenge encourages States to enhance PHC systems, thereby enforcing equitable access to essential health services for all Nigerians.

The aim of the initiative is to fast-track the implementation of the Seattle Declaration, a commitment signed by all State Governors at the National Economic Council meeting in November, 2019; to elevate Primary Healthcare on the political agenda, promote accountability, and drive measurable improvements in health outcomes.

It will be recalled that at the 2024 edition, Osun State emerged as the winner of the award in South-West and Lagos State came 2nd and both States went home with $500,000.00 and $400,000.00 respectively. Available statistics revealed the respective last year winners and runners-up in other geopolitical zones as - South East -   Anambra & Abia States, South South – Rivers and Delta States, North East – Yobe & Gombe States, North West – Kaduna & Jigawa States and North Central – Kwara State & Federal Capital Territory (FCT). It is noteworthy that amongst the six Zonal Champions, Osun State clinched 3rd position while Anambra State emerged as the overall Best Performing State.

Thirteen (13) awards are to be won annually, that is, the Best Performing and most Improved State and a runner-up in each of the regions and the National Recognition for the overall Best Performing State. The maiden edition of the Gala/Awards night was held on the 17th of May, 2023 whereas Borno State emerged as the overall winner. Ondo State and Ogun State emerged as the winner and runner-up respectively in the South-West zone at the maiden edition. Osun State came 4th in the zone and 26th in the country then.

Reacting to the award, Hon. (Barr) Jola Moses Akintola, the Honorable Commissioner for Health in Osun State, appreciated the Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke for his huge investment in the health sector and for creating the enabling environment which assisted the State to win the award consecutively on two occasions. He also extended his gratitude to the Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi; who doubles as the Chairman of the PHC Task Force, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Hon. Teslim Igbalaye; the Chief of Staff, Alh. Kazeem Akinleye; as well as the Head of Service, Mr. Ayanleye Aina for their support for the health sector and for having trust in the political players and technocrats of the sector.

In his words - “I want to humbly congratulate my Principal, the Executive Governor of Osun State, His Excellency, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke for this award. I specially appreciate him for making us proud in the health sector. His investment in the sector has yielded a lot of positive results. This reflected conspicuously at the 2025 Health Sector-wide Joint Annual Review (JAR) held between the 12th and 14th of November, 2025 whereas Osun State performed creditably well in the Overall Performance Rating. 

“In the same vein, I am profoundly grateful and congratulate the Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi, who doubles as the Chairman of the PHC Task Force in Osun State for his exceptional leadership. I equally appreciate the SSG, the Chief of Staff as well as the Head of Service for this award. You have all made us proud. You created the enabling environment for us to perform.”

“I thank every member of the formidable team of political office holders piloting the affairs of the Health sector, right from the Special Adviser on Public Health, Dr. Adekunle Akindele; Special Adviser on Primary Health, Dr. Michael Oyerinde; Special Adviser Health Management Board (HMB), Dr. Awoyemi; Senior Special Assistant on Health, Mrs. Sherifat Akanmu;  Chairman Osun State Health Insurance Agency (OSHIA), Dr. Muyiwa Oladimeji; Chairman HMB, Dr. K.K. Akinroye; Chairman State Primary Health Care Development Board (SPHCDB), Alh. Tajudeen Adisa; Chairman UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital (UTH), Barr. Niyi Owolade and the Chairman Osun Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (OSEMSAS), Dr. Waheed Oni”

“To our dedicated healthcare workers in the State, right from the Accounting Officers of all the afore-mentioned MDAs and their counterparts in other Ministries, most especially, the Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Isiaka Adekunle; the Immediate past Executive Secretary (ES) SPHCDB, Dr. Oluwole Fabiyi; incumbent Executive Secretary (ES) SPHCDB, Dr. Sina Igbalaye; the ES OSHIA, Dr. Rasaq Akindele; the PS HMB, Dr. Abayomi Oni; the Chief Medical Director of UTH, Dr. Babatunde Afolabi; PS Cabinet Office, Mr. Olusoji Wojuade; ES Osun State Agency for Control of AIDS (OSACA), Dr. Segun Daramola; PS Ministry of Economic Planning, Budget and Development, Mrs. Yetunde Esan and the General Manager, OSEMSAS Dr. Olapade. You all deserve commendation for your commitment to duty and support for this administration. You actually won the award for us.”

“I want to specially commend the PHC Leadership Challenge focal person in the State, Dr. Oluyemi Ogundun, the DPRS Osun PHCDB, Dr. Lawal Adeleke and their amiable team team from different MDAs that worked tirelessly to deliver the herculean task of submission of all necessary reports/information to the appropriate quarters in record time, against all odds. We have just started. More awards are still coming by God’s grace.”

“I must also appreciate the contributions of my colleagues, the Honorable Commissioners from the Ministry of Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economic Planning, Budget and Development, and Ministry of Government House Affairs and Protocol. In the same vein, I'm profoundly grateful to the Osun ALGON Chairman, Hon. Sarafadeen Awotunde for his immense contributions”

Other winners per zone (in no particular order) are:

North Central: Nasarawa – 1st, Kwara – 2nd  

North East: Yobe – 1st, Gombe – 2nd  

North West: Zamfara – 1st, Kaduna – 2nd 

 

South South: Rivers – 1st, Bayelsa – 2nd  

South East: Abia – 1st, Anambra – 2nd  

Overall winner – Yobe State.

Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the sequential award is that when Osun State won the award for the first-time last year, at the post award meetings, relevant Stakeholders jointly resolved not to rest on their oars but to improve on all performance indices accordingly; in a bid to defend the famed title. As the saying goes – “If you can dream it, you can achieve it” We did it, perseverance pays!

The detractors of the present administration under the able leadership of Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke have been proved wrong, in all sectors of governance and more evidently, in the health sector. Excellence and all-round success have become the hallmark of this administration, for which we are proud and honored to have delivered our own quota. Osun State is performing wonderfully to the admiration of the whole world, little wonder the Governor is proudly called – Mr. Performer!

While significant developments attainable through judicious use of the cash award are limitless, it is noteworthy that the global prestige associated with the award remains the ultimate prize of the successive wins. It has successfully turned Osun State to a beautiful bride and restored her place of pride amongst her peers. Osun has successfully proven to the whole world that success is not achieved by sheer luck or wishes, but by dint of hardwork, diligence and perseverance. These painstaking investments have again paid off, with a quite enviable result – BEST IN THE SOUTH WEST, FOR THE SECOND TIME!

Indeed, it always seems impossible until it is done.

Media Unit,

Office of the Honorable Commissioner for Health,

Osun State.

13th December, 2025.

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