These awards challenge the Ministry to innovate further, deepen collaborations with stakeholders, and ensure no Nigerian is left behind in the quest for improved healthcare services – Professor Pate
In a milestone achievement reflecting the essence of exemplary public service, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has been named the Overall Best Performing Ministry, Department, and Agency (MDA) while also receiving three other prestigious awards. These honors were conferred by the SERVICOM Office in the Presidency.
This announcement was made in a press statement signed by Alaba Balogun, Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations, on Wednesday.
The four awards includes:
1. Special Recognition Award
2. Most Innovative in Team A
3. Best Performing in Team A
4. Overall Best Performing MDA (the highest distinction).
According to the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, these awards underline the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to excellence in service delivery.
Speaking at the SERVICOM-organized End-of-Year Award Ceremony for MDAs, Prof. Pate described public service as a vocation “rooted in purpose, driven by commitment, and focused on results.”
In a heartfelt acknowledgment, Prof. Pate dedicated the accolades to the people of Nigeria, whom the Ministry serves, and to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for creating the enabling environment to deliver quality services.
Describing the recognition as humbling, Prof. Pate emphasized that the awards symbolize more than just acknowledgment. “These awards are a testament that our collective efforts, strengthened systems, and early results are making a real difference,” he said.
The Coordinating Minister highlighted the significance of the achievements, noting:
“These awards reflect the dedication of my colleagues—former Minister of State, Dr. Tunji Alausa (now Minister of Education), Hon. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, the Permanent Secretary, Directors, SERVICOM teams, Heads of Agencies and Hospitals, Regulatory Bodies, and all the hardworking staff within the Ministry.”
Prof. Pate further explained that the Special Recognition Award acknowledges the Ministry’s sustained drive to connect government services to citizens, ensuring lives are positively impacted through quality service delivery.
He attributed the success to the Ministry’s adoption of a Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), describing it as a catalyst for aligning efforts across government, development partners, and stakeholders to drive meaningful change.
Reiterating President Tinubu’s commitment to health as a national priority, Prof. Pate quoted the President’s statement on December 12, 2023: “Health is back on the front burner of Nigeria’s policy agenda.” He added that this directive served as a call to action, which has been met with significant progress.
Under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), the Ministry has implemented reforms aimed at revitalizing primary healthcare, strengthening health security, and ensuring universal access to care for Nigerians.
Prof. Pate added that these awards challenge the Ministry to innovate further, deepen collaborations with stakeholders, and ensure no Nigerian is left behind in the quest for improved healthcare services.
“These recognitions reaffirm our commitment to deliver impactful, quality healthcare that touches every life and fulfills the promise of public service,” he affirmed.
