The Mayor of Anaocha Council Area of Anambra State, Hon Romanus Ibekwe has emerged the winner of the 2026 Anambra State Primary Health Care, PHCs Leadership Challenge.
At an Awards ceremony held at the Light House, Awka, on Wednesday, the Anaocha Mayor won the prize money of N3million, ahead of his Ihiala counterpart, Engr Charles Orjiakor, who came second, clinching a N2 million prize, while Dr Emmanuel Nweke of Oyi LGA came third with a prize money of N1million.
Other categories of award were also presented during the ceremony to various workers under the State Health Sector.
The PHCs Leadership challenge Award and Recognition Ceremony was organized by the State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency and other stakeholders, following the conclusion of an assessment exercise for the PHCs in various LGAs across the state.
The challenge initiative is designed to promote accountability, innovation, leadership excellence and improved service delivery across PHC systems in the state.
The assessment was conducted by a team of experts and consultants.
Presenting the awards, the wife of Anambra State Governor, Dr Nonye Soludo explained that the event is an affirmation of his administration’s collective commitment to building a healthcare system that is responsive, accountable, innovative, and people-centered.
Commending the Ministry of Health, the Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency, partners, and stakeholders for instituting the challenge, aimed at recognizing excellence in leadership and service delivery at the grassroots level, the governor’s wife said by celebrating outstanding performance, the state hopes to inspire greater dedication and reinforce the values that drive sustainable development in its health sector.
She said under the leadership of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Anambra State has witnessed remarkable progress in primary healthcare delivery.
According to her, through strategic investments in health infrastructure, the recruitment and training of healthcare personnel, the upgrading of PHCs, improved access to essential medicines, and strengthened maternal and child health services, the administration has continued to reposition healthcare as a critical pillar of sustainable development.
“I understand firsthand the importance of strong primary healthcare systems in improving the wellbeing of families and communities. Primary healthcare remains the bedrock of disease prevention, health promotion, maternal and child care, immunization, nutrition, and community health education.
“This is why we have continued to complement government efforts through interventions and partnerships that promote healthy living, support mothers and children, strengthen nutrition awareness, and encourage preventive healthcare practices. Today’s award ceremony recognizes leaders whose commitment, hard work, and innovation have contributed significantly to advancing these goals within their local government areas,” she said.
She reminded the award recipients that excellence is not a destination but a continuous journey, encouraging them to strive for even greater impact.
Dr Soludo said together, government, healthcare workers, development partners, community leaders, and citizens must continue to work hand in hand to strengthen the primary healthcare system and improve health outcomes for all.
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike said the programme is not just a competition, but mainly a call to action for all stakeholders to prioritize the health and wellbeing of the people, through a stronger and more responsive healthcare system.
He appreciated the state governor for placing health at the heart of his administration’s developmental efforts, noting that the investments the governor had made were what led to the state’s emergence twice, as the winner of the national award.
Obidike said the challenge has the objective to get the leadership of the various LGAs to take ownership of health care activities in their areas, as well as to reward excellence.
“The challenge also ensures that healthcare services reach those who need it most in our communities- women, children, youths, the elders, and vulnerable populations in our communities,” he said.
The Southeast Zonal Coordinator of the World Health Organization, WHO, Dr Chimuanya Igboegbu observed that the investment of the state governor in the health sector is yielding dividends and has resulted in the state’s emergence as the winner of the PHCs Leadership Challenge Fund nationwide and the best in the Southeast.
The state’s emergence as the only Southeast state ever to win the award, he said, speaks to how responsive and prompt the government is in addressing challenges at the health facilities.
“Anambra people should cherish the leadership it has at the moment. Other states will come and understudy what the state has done in the health sector due to the support the governor has given to the Commissioner for Health.
“WHO will always align with any government interested in the health of their people. I want to commend the LGA mayors who won the awards and encourage them to do more,” he said.
In a goodwill message, a representative of UNICEF, Gloria Ogbonna congratulated the governor and people of Anambra State for winning the leadership challenge fund, adding that it should serve as a motivation for health workers and reinforce efforts at ensuring better, efficient and responsive health services to Anambra people.
For his part, the Mayor of Aguata LGA, Dr Chibueze Oforbuike noted that the award will encourage healthy competition among the LGAs, with a view to improving health service delivery across parts of the state.
Oforbuike also observed that the focus on the LGAs, which is the closest level of government to the people at the grassroots is quite commendable, considering statistics, which show that a greater percentage of infant, maternal and other forms of deaths occur at the grassroots.
“This award, when put side by side with the laudable initiatives of Governor Chukwuma Soludo in the health sector, especially the free ante-natal and child delivery services, will go a long way to secure a new lease of life for our people at the hinterlands,” he posited.
Presentation of the awards and the prizes formed the highlights of the event.
