Yobe State has once again reaffirmed its leadership position in healthcare delivery in Nigeria, emerging as the 2025 National Champion for Primary Health Care Leadership and clinching a total prize of USD 1.2 million.
This remarkable achievement comes barely one week after the Yobe State Government received the Leadership Excellence Award in Equitable Healthcare and Social Welfare from the Dove Healthcare Foundation, further highlighting the state’s consistent progress in strengthening its healthcare system.
The Primary Health Care Leadership Challenge award celebrates excellence, innovation, and outstanding contributions within Nigeria’s healthcare sector. It also recognizes the personal commitment and visionary leadership of His Excellency, Hon. (Dr.) Mai Mala Buni, CON, COMN, in ensuring the establishment, revitalization, and functionality of Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across Yobe State.
Under the challenge, Yobe State first emerged as the Best Performing State in the North-East, earning a prize of USD 500,000. The state then went on to outperform all other states nationwide, emerging as the Overall Best Performing State (National Champion) in Primary Healthcare Delivery, attracting an additional USD 700,000. This brings the total prize money to USD 1.2 million.
The Primary Health Care Leadership Challenge is jointly managed by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), UNICEF, and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA). It assesses states based on leadership commitment, service delivery, innovation, and measurable improvements in primary healthcare outcomes.
This latest national recognition, alongside other recent awards, underscores the priority attention the Buni administration places on primary healthcare as the foundation of a healthy and productive society. Through sustained investment, policy reforms, and strategic partnerships, Yobe State has continued to strengthen access to quality healthcare, particularly for rural and vulnerable populations.
The achievement further positions Yobe State as a model for primary healthcare delivery in Nigeria, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to improving the well-being of its people and ensuring that no community is left behind in the pursuit of quality healthcare services.
