By Olasunkanmi Onifade
A health sector administrator, Dr Igbemi Arthur Igbemi, has been conferred with the Pan-African Public Service Excellence Award at the African Prestige 100 Honoris Awards in Nairobi, Kenya.
The award was presented under the African Prestige 100 Honoris platform, which organisers said recognises 100 Africans across sectors for leadership, innovation and contributions to public service delivery and development.
Igbemi, who is the Executive Secretary of the Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Agency, was recognised for reforms aimed at expanding health insurance coverage and improving access to affordable healthcare services in the state.
In a statement on Saturday, he said the recognition reflected ongoing reforms in Akwa Ibom’s health sector.
He noted that progress recorded had been supported by policy direction from Governor Umo Eno.
According to him, the governor’s leadership had strengthened accountability in the public service and enabled professionals to focus on implementation and continuity of reforms.
“The governor has demonstrated consistent commitment to results-driven governance. This has created an enabling environment for reforms in the health insurance system to be implemented and sustained,” he said.
Igbemi added that the administration’s focus on social investment and primary healthcare financing had improved coordination within the health sector and increased public confidence in state health programmes.
He said the approach to institutional strengthening had helped reposition the health insurance scheme towards long-term sustainability.
“The focus on systems-building has made it possible to deepen reforms that will outlast individual administrations,” he said.
He noted that collaboration across government institutions under the current administration had improved service delivery in the sector.
Igbemi also called for sustained investment in health systems across Africa, saying stronger domestic institutions were critical to achieving universal health coverage.
Also speaking, Dr Emmanuel Bernards, President of ELIAD, said the awards were designed to recognise public and private sector leaders driving impact in governance and social development across Africa.
He said the initiative also promotes knowledge sharing and policy innovation among African countries.
He said the Nairobi summit brought together policymakers, development experts and private sector leaders to discuss governance, investment and institutional reforms across the continent.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the selection followed a competitive evaluation process by an international awards committee.
The process focused on governance impact, institutional reforms and improvements in public service systems, especially in health financing and access to care.
The award category recognises efforts to strengthen access to primary healthcare, improve health insurance systems and enhance collaboration between insurers and healthcare providers across Africa.
NAN also reports that, to commemorate the 62nd birthday of the governor, the Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Agency (AKSHIA) dedicated the award to him.
The agency also enrolled elderly citizens and orphans in a special health insurance exercise.
The free enrolment into the state health insurance scheme, ARISECARE, is aimed at providing access to affordable healthcare services for the beneficiaries.
Medical and social support items were also presented to the enrolees as part of the activities marking the governor’s birthday.
The events were held at the Sen. Oluremi Tinubu Elderly Citizens Centre in Ikot Ambang, Ibiono Local Government Area, and the MfonAbasi Orphanage Home in Ikot Oku Mfang, Abak Local Government Area.
Officials said elderly persons from Ibiono Ibom and neighbouring communities turned out in large numbers for the enrolment exercise. (NAN)
Edited by Tosin Kolade
