Nigeria’s healthcare sector took centre stage on Friday night as the Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Awards (NHEA) 2026 Celebrates Nigeria’s Healthcare Excellence at a high-profile ceremony held at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, recognising outstanding professionals, institutions and innovators driving transformation across the country’s health system.

The event brought together senior healthcare leaders, policymakers, regulators, development partners and industry stakeholders, all gathered to honour 31 winners across multiple categories spanning healthcare delivery, pharmaceuticals, biomedical innovation, health insurance and digital health services.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, attended as Special Guest of Honour, where he commended award recipients for their contributions to strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ongoing reforms aimed at improving access, quality and resilience in healthcare delivery.

Dr. Salako described the awardees as key drivers of progress in the sector, noting that sustained recognition of excellence plays a vital role in promoting accountability, innovation and continuous improvement within Nigeria’s health ecosystem.

“The nominees and winners are ambassadors of excellence whose dedication continues to inspire confidence in Nigeria’s health sector,” Dr. Salako said.

He further emphasised government efforts to deepen reforms, strategic investments and partnerships designed to improve health outcomes nationwide.

Chairman of the NHEA Advisory Board, Dr. Anthony Omolola, also praised the calibre of nominees, noting that selection from over 120 entries reflected a high standard of achievement across the sector.

He reaffirmed the integrity of the awards process, which includes public nominations, voting, independent verification and final assessment by a jury and advisory board.

This year’s theme, “Innovation, Local Manufacturing and Digital Transformation,” highlighted the growing importance of technology, indigenous capacity and research collaboration in reshaping Nigeria’s healthcare landscape.

A major highlight of the evening was the presentation of Lifetime Achievement Awards to three distinguished figures: Dr. Ladi Awosika, recognised for healthcare financing and system development; Sir Ike Onyechi, honoured for pharmacy leadership and entrepreneurship; and Emeritus Professor Samuel Chukwunonyerem Ohaegbulam, celebrated for contributions to neurosurgery and medical education.

Special recognition awards were also presented to Professor Kingsley Ekwueme, acknowledged for advancements in robotic and minimally invasive surgery, and Professor Mildred Edet John, honoured for her leadership in nursing education and professional development.

Among the 31 winners announced were FCMB as Outstanding Healthcare Financial Institution of the Year, Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) as State Government Health Insurance of the Year, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital as Public Tertiary Healthcare Facility of the Year, and Iwosan Lagoon Hospitals as Private Tertiary Healthcare Facility of the Year.

Other notable winners included Leadway Health Limited, Gabbi Health, Fidson Healthcare Plc, and Codix Pharma Limited, each recognised for innovation, service delivery and contributions to strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare value chain.

Organisers said the awards continue to serve as a benchmark for excellence in Nigeria’s healthcare sector, reinforcing standards across clinical practice, administration, innovation and health financing.

The Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Awards, organised by Global Health Project and Resources (GHPR) in collaboration with the Anadach Group (USA), has for over a decade remained one of Nigeria’s most respected platforms for recognising leadership and innovation in healthcare.

Supported by PharmAccess Foundation and Digital Clinical Laboratory (DCL), the initiative continues to spotlight individuals and institutions driving meaningful change across the country’s healthcare system.