The Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency has rewarded outstanding health workers and Local Government Health Authorities with cash prizes aimed at strengthening primary healthcare delivery across the state. The awards were presented on Wednesday in Lokoja during the Primary Health Care Leadership Challenge, where top-performing personnel and councils received between ₦250,000 and ₦5 million.
Speaking at the event, the agency’s Executive Director, Dr. Muazu Omeiza, said the initiative forms part of Governor Ahmed Ododo’s broader effort to promote accountability, encourage excellence, and motivate frontline health workers. He noted that the programme is specifically designed to improve service standards at the grassroots level.
Dr. Omeiza commended the governor for fulfilling his promise of cash rewards, describing the gesture as a significant morale boost for workers in the health sector. He also praised the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adeiza, for his support in facilitating the successful disbursement and advancing the agency’s programmes.
According to Omeiza, seven Local Government Health Authorities, seven Officers-in-Charge, and one Health Management Information System officer each received ₦250,000. He added that Ogori-Magongo Local Government Area emerged as the overall best performer, winning ₦5 million, while Mopamuro, Bassa, and Ogori-Magongo Local Government Areas secured first place positions, each receiving ₦3 million.
He further stated that Kogi, Ofu, and Ajaokuta Local Government Areas placed second, with each receiving ₦2 million as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the state’s primary healthcare system.
Dr. Omeiza explained that the Primary Health Care Leadership Challenge is a continuous, performance-based initiative aimed at sustaining excellence and enhancing accountability among health workers. He stressed that key performance indicators—including responsiveness to emergencies, work ethic, and timeliness in data submission—would continue to be closely monitored.
He added that the programme promotes community ownership of healthcare services, noting that support from the Federal Government and the World Bank is contributing to the upgrade of health facilities and infrastructure across the state.
Addressing the award recipients, Omeiza emphasised that the funds must be utilised strictly for approved projects, warning that any deviation would attract sanctions. He disclosed that a monitoring team has been established to ensure transparency and accountability, in line with the governor’s directive.
In his remarks, the National Coordinator, Mr. Shola Babatunde, commended the state government for creating an enabling environment for healthcare delivery. He urged health workers to remain committed and to uphold professionalism, integrity, and dedication in their duties.
Babatunde also encouraged award recipients to act as role models and mentors within their facilities, sustaining the standards that earned them recognition.
In separate remarks, beneficiaries, Mr. Emmanuel Ohmei and Mr. Umar Jatto, expressed gratitude to the government for recognising their contributions and pledged to further improve their performance.
