It was a glorious day for Osun State on the 12th day of December, 2024 when the State emerged as the South West champion of the Primary HealthCare (PHC) Leadership Challenge Award, which was held at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja.

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.

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.

Osun State emerged as the winner of this year’s edition 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. Anambra State emerged as the winner in the South-East as well as the overall winner of the 2024 edition.

Reacting to the award, Hon. (Barr) Jola 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. 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 in our score-card shared at the 2024 Health Sector-wide Joint Annual Review (JAR) held between the 6th and 8th of November, 2024. Going by score-card, Osun State is one of the best performing States in the Health sector in year 2024. For example, in the area of Antenatal Care Coverage, the report shows that Osun came 2nd behind Lagos State with 92% coverage (Lagos has 95% coverage). This is well above the national average of 58% coverage. Also, out of 36 States of the Federation, Osun emerged 2nd in the area of Modern Contraceptive Rate (MCPR), 3rd in Health Budget Allocation and Performance, 7th in proportion of births assisted by skilled providers (skilled Birth attendants) and 9th in the area of proportion of fully immunized children.”

“Also, about two weeks ago, Osun State proudly came 1st at the Malaria Commodity Logistics System (MCLS) Annual Workshop to share experiences and Reward High Performers in the Global Fund (GF) Support States.”

“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. Awodele; 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 health 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 Executive Secretary (ES) SPHCDB, Dr. Oluwole Fabiyi; 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, and her 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.”

Other winners per zone (in no particular order) are:
South South – Rivers State
South East – Anambra State (Overall winner)
North Central – Kwara State
North West – Kaduna State
North East – Gombe State

Osun has successfully proven to the whole world that you cannot continue to do things the same way and expect a different result. We did it differently, we got a different result – BEST IN THE SOUTH WEST!

Indeed, it always seems impossible until it is done.

Media Unit,
Office of the Honourable Commissioner for Health.