Anambra clinches $1.2m in awards for best state in Southeast, Nigeria
By Jeffrey Agbo
Anambra State has once again emerged victorious at the esteemed National Primary Healthcare Leadership Challenge, clinching two coveted awards: Best State in the Southeast Zone and the Overall Best State in Nigeria.
The awards come as part of the recognition of Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s innovative leadership and commitment to human capital development.
The state received a grand prize totalling $1.2 million; that is $500,000 as the best in the Southeast and an additional $700,000 as the national overall best.
These accolades spotlight Anambra’s undeniable strides in enhancing primary healthcare delivery, an authentication of the exceptional governance of Soludo which places a high premium on the holistic well-being of Anambra people.
READ ALSO: Be the solution not problem, Soludo tells Anambra youths
This spectacular feat, according to Soludo, is a collective achievement for the people of Anambra. “It underscores the resilience, resourcefulness, and collaborative spirit of our people. The prize money, beyond its financial value, symbolises an endorsement of the state’s healthcare model and provides an opportunity to deepen investments in critical areas such as maternal and child health, immunisation, and rural healthcare infrastructure,” the governor said.
The Primary Healthcare Leadership Challenge, driven by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum in collaboration with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Aliko Dangote Foundation, the Federal Ministry of Health, and UNICEF, seeks to galvanise governors’ commitment to grassroots healthcare. Its focus on innovation, accountability and gender-specific health outcomes underscores the importance of strategic investments in human capital development.
In his over two years in office, Soludo’s administration has strategically prioritised healthcare as a cornerstone for sustainable development, recruiting thousands of qualified healthcare professionals, investing many resources in healthcare facilities and demonstrating that effective leadership and targeted investments can yield life-changing outcomes for the populace.
The government said that beyond the purview of healthcare, Soludo’s dynamic governance has positioned Anambra State as a model of excellence in infrastructure, education, and economic reforms. Under his leadership, the state has witnessed a renaissance in governance that places people at the heart of development. By adopting data-driven policies, fiscal prudence, and ensuring financial transparency, Soludo’s administration has charted a path that other states can emulate.