– Applauds NHEA for recognising excellence in Nigerian healthcare
The Federal Government has appealed to Nigerian healthcare professionals not to abandon the country in pursuit of greener pastures abroad, but rather to remain and contribute to building a resilient health system at home.
This charge was given by the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Isiaq Adekunle Salako, during the 2025 Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Awards (NHEA), held recently at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.
Addressing the mass emigration of skilled medical personnel from Nigeria, Dr Salako acknowledged the current economic difficulties but maintained that the solution lies in collective responsibility, patriotic commitment, and a shared determination to strengthen the nation’s health sector.
“I want to appeal to our healthcare professionals, especially the younger ones: let us not abandon our country,” he said. “I know the times are tough, and for economic reasons, many feel tempted to leave for places where the grass appears greener. But the truth remains: this is our country, and no one else will build it for us. I am persuaded and convinced that, working together, we can make Nigeria great again.”
Dr Salako reiterated that the health of Nigerians remains a top priority under the present administration, emphasising that healthcare is not just a right, but an urgent necessity. He assured stakeholders of the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding healthcare access, improving service delivery, and ensuring financial protection for patients through increased investment and broader health insurance coverage.
“Step by step, we are increasing the resources allocated to healthcare and expanding the reach of health insurance. In the near future, no Nigerian should have to pay out-of-pocket to access basic medical care,” he affirmed.
The minister also reinforced the government’s commitment to a sector-wide approach (SWAp), advocating for integrated collaboration among federal, state, and local governments, alongside the private sector, NGOs, development partners, and traditional and alternative medicine practitioners, to achieve universal health coverage for all Nigerians.
Commending the organisers of the NHEA for sustaining the initiative over the past 11 years despite prevailing challenges, Salako applauded Dr Anthony Omolola and his team for their resilience and enduring commitment to recognising healthcare excellence in Nigeria.
“For any event to run successfully and consistently for 11 years—particularly one that is not profit-driven—speaks volumes about the determination and perseverance of its organisers,” he noted. “I congratulate Dr Omolola and the NHEA team for their commitment to acknowledging and celebrating excellence within our healthcare system.”
Salako stressed that recognition and reward are powerful motivators in a challenging professional environment, and called for stronger private sector collaboration to complement government efforts in the sector.
Reiterating his message, the minister called for a unified vision and action plan to rebuild the health system. “With all of us—government, private sector, development partners, NGOs, and the healthcare workforce—working together, we can deliver quality healthcare that meets the needs of all Nigerians, regardless of their location or socio-economic status,” he concluded.
In his opening remarks, Dr Anthony Omolola, chairman of the NHEA Advisory Board, reaffirmed the purpose of the awards as a platform for celebrating excellence, fostering collaboration, and strengthening Nigeria’s health system.
Welcoming distinguished guests, health professionals, and key stakeholders to the 11th edition of the awards, Omolola highlighted the significance of this year’s theme: “Collaborating for Impact: Strengthening Health Systems through the SWAp Approach.” He noted that it underscores the importance of multi-sectoral partnerships involving government, the private sector, development organisations, NGOs, and traditional health practitioners in delivering sustainable healthcare outcomes across the country.
Omolola revealed that the 2025 edition attracted over 35,000 nominations across multiple categories, alongside 60,000 online votes—reflecting the competitive spirit and growing public trust in the awards.
To enhance credibility and ensure transparency, he explained that the selection process was subjected to rigorous internal scrutiny by the NHEA team, with further validation by global auditing firm Deloitte.
Among this year’s innovations were the expansion of the advisory and jury evaluation framework, the introduction of 37 award subcategories, an upgraded digital voting platform, as well as increased public engagement—factors he said had set a new standard for future editions.
He assured the audience that NHEA would continue to contribute meaningfully to the development of Nigeria’s healthcare system by annually recognising and rewarding innovation, leadership, and excellence.
