28/06/2025
Governor Radda Bags Another Prestigious National Health Award
As Katsina State Contributory Healthcare Mgt Agency Clinches Top Honour for Second Year Running
Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has once again been honoured on the national stage for his bold and people focused leadership in the health sector.
At the 11th Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Awards (NHEA 2025), held on Friday, June 27, 2025, at the Eko Hotel & Suites Lagos, Governor Radda was presented with a Special Recognition Award in acknowledgment of the sweeping healthcare reforms undertaken in Katsina under his administration.
Similarly, at the same event, the Katsina State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KTSCHMA) was celebrated once again, clinching the Best State Health Insurance Agency of the Year award—for the second consecutive time, having won the same honour in 2024.
This remarkable back-to-back recognition is a testament to the efficiency, transparency, and life-saving impact of the scheme under Governor Radda administration.
The award was received on behalf of the agency by its Executive Secretary, Mohammed I. Safana, who led a team of health officials to the prestigious gathering.
Widely known as the “Oscars of Nigerian Healthcare,” the NHEA is organised by Global Health Projects & Resources in collaboration with the Anadach Group (USA). This year’s ceremony featured over 100 shortlisted nominees across 29 categories, with support from industry players like PharmAccess Foundation and DCL Laboratory Products Ltd.
The award enjoys the endorsement of leading professional health bodies such as the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN), and the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN).
Governor Radda shared the stage with other prominent Nigerians, including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Emmanuel Abayomi, and the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, who had the honour of personally presenting the award to Governor Radda.
In his acceptance remarks, Governor Radda expressed deep gratitude and humility, saying:
“I would like to thank Almighty Allah and my friends and family who have supported this important journey. I dedicate this award to the great people of Katsina State, who believed in me and gave me the opportunity to serve. I also appreciate the organisers of this prestigious event, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and all the agencies and institutions working tirelessly to improve healthcare in Nigeria. Thank you, and may God bless us all.”
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Wale Alabi, NHEA Project Director, remarked:
“This year, we honour leaders and institutions shaping real outcomes—expanding access, driving innovation, and transforming healthcare delivery in Nigeria.”
Governor Radda presence at the ceremony in Lagos was more than symbolic. It underscored the strong and growing bond he enjoys with Nigeria’s medical professionals and reaffirmed his personal commitment to rebuilding trust and capacity in the healthcare system.
His administration’s focus ranging from improved human resources and digital health innovations to rural health access continues to inspire confidence among health stakeholders both within and outside the country.
This latest recognition makes it the third major award Governor Radda has received in the health sector in less than two years a rare feat that underscores the depth and seriousness of his government’s interventions.
The first was in May 2024, when he was honoured by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) at its Annual Conference in Calabar. He was the only governor recognised, thanks to his bold steps in sponsoring medical students abroad, creating a State Health Council, enhancing residency training, and investing in health infrastructure across the state.
The second came on June 23, 2024, when the Katsina State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KTSCHMA)—a flagship initiative of his government—was named Best State Health Insurance Agency of the Year.
This third award, conferred at NHEA 2025, now places Governor Radda in a unique class. He is currently the only sitting Nigerian governor to be honoured by three separate health-sector bodies within two years. It is a reflection of the sustained impact and growing national appreciation for his efforts to reposition healthcare in Katsina State.
Other distinguished recipients at this year’s ceremony include:
Dr. (Pharm.) Philip Onagwele Emafo, for Lifetime Achievement in pharmaceutical advancement;
Dr. Olukayode Akinlade, for decades of exceptional service to Nigeria’s healthcare system;
Afrimedical Manufacturing and Supplies Ltd., for contributions to local syringe production;
ABUAD Multisystem Hospital, for excellence in clinical innovation and patient services;
Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, First Lady of Lagos State, for the Jumejilo Multi-Birth Assistance Programme (JMAP);
Mrs. Olushola Aketi, Director of Nursing Services, Lagos State, for her work in strengthening nursing and midwifery; and
Dr. Ebere Okereke, recipient of the Diaspora Excellence Award for her global contributions to public health and pandemic preparedness.
Governor Radda inclusion in this elite group is a powerful testament to the visible and lasting transformation taking place in Katsina’s healthcare sector. For him, healthcare is not just a campaign promise—it is a duty to protect, uplift, and serve the people of his state with integrity, compassion, and vision.
Governor Radda was accompanied to the event by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir; Hon Sada Soli, the Katsina State Commissioner for Health, Engr. Musa Adamu, ES primary health care and DG KATCHMA.
DMSA Katsina
28th June 2025
