Yobe Tops National PHC Leadership Awards, Bags $1.2m for Grassroots Health Reforms

Yobe State has clinched the top honor at the 2025 National Primary Health Care (PHC) Leadership Challenge Awards, emerging as the Overall Best Performing State in recognition of its sustained efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery at the grassroots.

The award was presented during the third edition of the PHC Leadership Challenge Award Night held in Abuja on Friday. Yobe State received a grand prize of $700,000 for its overall performance and an additional $500,000 after winning the Zonal Best Performing State award for the Northeast, bringing its total winnings to $1.2 million.

The prestigious initiative was organized by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and UNICEF, with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The program is designed to promote accountability, encourage innovation, and stimulate healthy competition among states in improving primary healthcare outcomes.

Yobe’s selection was based on key performance benchmarks, particularly its strong showing in quality of care and patient satisfaction across primary healthcare facilities.

Across the six geopolitical zones, states that won the zonal best-performing awards, each with a prize of $500,000, include Nasarawa (North-Central), Zamfara (North-West), Abia (South-East), Rivers (South-South), and Osun (South-West).

The first runners-up in each zone—Gombe, Kwara, Kaduna, Anambra, Bayelsa, and Ogun states—each received $400,000.

In total, $6.1 million was awarded to states, with the funds expected to be ploughed back into strengthening primary healthcare infrastructure, improving service delivery, and building human resource capacity. The initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s National Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), which places primary healthcare at the center of achieving universal health coverage.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima, while congratulating the award recipients, praised state governors for their leadership and commitment to improving health outcomes nationwide. Represented by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, the Vice-President said constructive competition such as the PHC Leadership Challenge ultimately benefits the entire country.

He highlighted notable progress in the health sector since governors entered into a long-term sector-wide agreement with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu two years ago, noting that at least 20 states exceeded their health targets in 2024 alone.

According to him, state governments have also significantly increased health budget allocations, now estimated at ₦2.6 trillion, compared to previous years.

“Health is central to national development. Wherever you find positive health, someone has deliberately invested in it,” he said, urging both federal and state governments to deepen their commitments to the sector.

Shettima called on states to further scale up health spending, projecting that total national health investment should reach ₦3.5 trillion in the next fiscal year, considering available resources.

He acknowledged ongoing challenges around the affordability of healthcare services but noted that the Federal Government was taking steps to reduce the cost of medicines, diagnostics, and medical tests, especially for vulnerable Nigerians. He encouraged states to actively support these interventions.

The vice president also outlined the broader benefits of health sector investment, including a healthier and more productive population, stronger human capital, job creation, and industrial growth. He cited the establishment of Africa’s first factory producing long-lasting insecticide-treated nets as an example of how health investments can stimulate local manufacturing.

Speaking on behalf of the winning states, Abia State Governor Alex Otti commended the organizers and development partners for sustaining the initiative, assuring that states would push for even higher standards in 2026.

He stressed that health spending should not be viewed purely as an investment expecting financial returns but as a fundamental necessity for human survival and well-being.

Also reacting, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal said the $500,000 won by his state would be channelled into refurbishing selected primary healthcare centers.

“It is encouraging when your efforts are recognized. This additional funding will go straight into improving PHC facilities in Zamfara,” he said, adding that despite funding constraints, his administration would continue to prioritize the health sector.

The 2025 PHC Leadership Challenge Awards once again underscored the growing emphasis on primary healthcare as the backbone of Nigeria’s health system and a critical pathway to better health outcomes for millions of citizens.

Dangote Unveils Landmark N100bn Yearly Education Scheme as Inuwa, VP Shettima, National Leaders Rally Behind Vision 2030

By Auwal Ahmad Umar

Gombe State Governor and Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya,  on Thursday joined Vice President Kashim Shettima, policymakers, development finance institutions, global education advocates and captains of industry at the formal launch of the Aliko Dangote Foundation’s N100 billion annual Education Support Programme held at the Eko Hotel in Lagos.

This was contained in a press statement signed by Ismaila Uba Misilli, Director-General, Press Affairs, Gombe Government House, and made available to newsmen in Gombe on Thursday.

The new initiative, projected to inject over N1 trillion into Nigeria’s education system over the next decade, also featured the unveiling of the Dangote Vision 2030, a 100-billion-dollar development blueprint designed to accelerate Nigeria’s long-term economic and social transformation.

Speaking at the event, Vice President Kashim Shettima described the education support programme as a groundbreaking intervention aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its priorities on human capital development, skills expansion and poverty reduction.

He praised Alhaji Aliko Dangote as a patriotic Nigerian whose philanthropy continues to inspire confidence in the nation’s future and urged other private-sector leaders to emulate his commitment to national development.

In his keynote address, Aliko Dangote said the scholarship programme was established to close the financial gaps that force many bright Nigerian students to abandon their education, noting that education remains the most powerful vehicle for social mobility and national advancement.

He explained that the programme will support 45,000 students in its first year, scale to 155,000 beneficiaries per year by its fourth year, and reach a cumulative 1,325,000 students by 2036.

He also highlighted the Aliko Dangote STEM Scholars, designed to support 30,000 undergraduates annually in science, technology, engineering and mathematics programmes across public universities and polytechnics.

Speaking on the sidelines of the ceremony, Governor Inuwa Yahaya commended Alhaji Aliko Dangote for what he described as a visionary investment in Nigeria’s youth, noting that the magnitude and structure of the programme align with ongoing efforts across northern states to reduce out-of-school children, strengthen teacher capacity, improve school retention and expand access to quality education at all levels.

The event was attended by the governors of Borno, Nasarawa, Kano, Niger and Lagos States, ministers, members of the National Assembly, traditional rulers and senior policymakers.

NUC Team Commends Al-Ansar University as Accreditation Visit Boosts MBBS Programme

By Auwal Ahmad Umar

Al-Ansar University Maiduguri (AUM) on Monday hosted a delegation from the National Universities Commission (NUC) as part of the accreditation exercise for its Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme — a major step in strengthening the institution’s expanding medical training capacity.

The delegation was received at the University Senate Chamber by the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Fanna Inna Abdulrahman, alongside members of the Management Team at the AUM take-off campus along Baga Road, Maiduguri.

In her welcome remarks, Prof. Fanna expressed deep appreciation to the NUC for its continuous efforts in advancing academic standards and promoting excellence in medical education across Nigeria.

She noted the rapid growth of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, reiterating the University’s commitment to producing competent, ethical and well-trained doctors who will contribute significantly to the nation’s healthcare delivery.

Prof. Fanna thanked the delegation for their thorough engagement, reaffirming the University’s commitment to providing world-class medical education, enhancing clinical exposure and shaping future medical professionals grounded in excellence and service.

After the courtesy meeting, which featured a detailed presentation on AUM’s vision, academic milestones and progress of the MBBS programme, the accreditation panel conducted an extensive tour of facilities.

Their inspection covered key academic areas such as the Basic Medical Sciences Laboratories, Anatomy Dissection Hall, Physiology and Biochemistry Laboratories, Lecture Theatres, staff offices, the University Library, ICT Centre, and other core facilities essential for medical training.

They also assessed student hostels to review welfare and living conditions.

The visit later continued at the AUM Permanent Site along Gubio Road, where the team inspected ongoing infrastructure projects tailored to support the long-term development of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences.

At the Basic Clinical Laboratories, the delegation examined critical sections including the Pharmacology/Therapeutics Laboratory, Chemical Pathology Laboratory, Medical Microbiology Laboratory and the Haematology Laboratory. These facilities are central to hands-on learning and preparing students for clinical practice.

As part of the accreditation process, the NUC team also visited the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), the institution’s primary clinical training partner under an existing MoU.

The Chief Medical Director, Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo, received the team and led an inspection of clinical departments, teaching resources and training facilities to evaluate UMTH’s readiness to support the MBBS programme’s clinical phase.

Speaking during the visit, the team leader commended AUM for its hospitality and noted that the assessment sought to evaluate curriculum quality, staffing strength, infrastructure, equipment and clinical arrangements in line with the NUC’s Minimum Academic Standards.

The accreditation visit marks a major milestone for Al-Ansar University, reflecting its steady progress and growing contributions to Nigeria’s medical and healthcare advancement.