The federal government has reassured Nigerians of its commitment to building a more resilient, accessible healthcare system through ongoing sector reforms, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare Iziaq Adekunle Salako told the 2026 Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Awards in Lagos, framing strategic investment, partnership and policy as the pillars of that effort.
The 12th edition of the awards, themed Innovation, Local Manufacturing and Digital Transformation in Healthcare, recognised leading private sector stakeholders and outstanding achievements across the country’s healthcare industry, drawing healthcare leaders, policymakers, regulators, development partners and industry stakeholders, and also honoured individuals whose lifelong contributions have shaped healthcare delivery, education, financing and medical innovation in Nigeria. Salako, the event’s special guest of honour, commended award recipients and nominees for their contributions to strengthening the country’s health system, calling them ambassadors of excellence whose dedication continues to inspire confidence in Nigeria’s health sector, and encouraged organisers to sustain the awards as a catalyst for improved quality, innovation and accountability in healthcare delivery.
NHEA Advisory Board Chairman Anthony Omolola congratulated all nominees, noting that being shortlisted from more than 120 nominations was itself a notable achievement, and described the awards as a celebration of resilience, innovation, leadership and service by individuals and organisations working to strengthen healthcare delivery nationwide, reaffirming the award’s commitment to a transparent, merit based process built on public nominations, voting, independent verification, extensive research and rigorous assessment by an independent jury and advisory board.
Lifetime Achievement Awards went to Ladi Awosika for pioneering contributions to healthcare financing and health system development, Ike Onyechi for exceptional leadership in pharmacy practice and healthcare entrepreneurship, and Emeritus Professor Samuel Chukwunonyerem Ohaegbulam for outstanding contributions to neurosurgery, medical education and specialist healthcare. Urologist and robotic surgeon Professor Kingsley Ekwueme received a Special Recognition Diaspora Excellence Award for pioneering leadership in robotic and minimally invasive surgery, while Professor Mildred Edet John was honoured for her contributions to nursing leadership, education and professional development. A total of 31 winners emerged across categories including healthcare delivery, pharmaceuticals, laboratory medicine, biomedical technology, health insurance, media, innovation and healthcare administration, among them FCMB as Outstanding Healthcare Financial Institution of the Year, Lagos State Health Management Agency as State Government Health Insurance of the Year, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital as Public Tertiary Healthcare Facility of the Year, Iwosan Lagoon Hospitals as Private Tertiary Healthcare Facility of the Year, Leadway Health Limited as Health Maintenance Organisation of the Year, Gabbi Health as Innovative Healthcare Service Provider of the Year, Fidson Healthcare Plc as Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Company of the Year, and Codix Pharma Limited as Technology Driven Pharmaceutical Distributor of the Year.
