The prestigious Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island became the epicenter of healthcare excellence on December 5, 2025, as Nigeria’s most distinguished health leaders gathered for the third edition of the Dove Healthcare Awards. The ceremony, hosted by the Dove Healthcare Foundation, marked a significant milestone in recognizing outstanding contributions to the country’s health sector under the compelling theme ‘Excellence and Innovation in Healthcare: Strengthening Nigeria’s Health System for Better Outcomes’.
This year’s ceremony transcended traditional award presentations, evolving into a strategic platform for healthcare transformation through the introduction of high-level panel discussions. The innovative format created meaningful dialogue opportunities focused on healthcare governance, system strengthening, and community-based interventions, setting a new standard for healthcare recognition events in Nigeria.
The awards ceremony brought together an impressive array of healthcare stakeholders, including state governors, medical professionals, pharmaceutical leaders, and healthcare administrators. The diverse gathering reflected the multi-faceted nature of Nigeria’s health system and the collaborative effort required to drive meaningful improvements across all sectors of healthcare delivery.
Among the evening’s most distinguished honorees were three state governors whose transformative leadership has significantly impacted healthcare delivery in their respective regions. Their recognition highlighted the crucial role of political leadership in advancing healthcare access and quality across Nigeria’s diverse geographical and demographic landscape.
His Excellency, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, Executive Governor of Borno State, received special recognition for his exceptional leadership in rebuilding healthcare infrastructure in a region severely affected by insurgency. His administration’s innovative approach to restoring health services while simultaneously addressing complex humanitarian needs has established a remarkable model for crisis-responsive healthcare governance that other states are beginning to emulate.
His Excellency, Sen. Dr. Ademola Adeleke, Executive Governor of Osun State, was honored with the ‘Most Outstanding State Leadership in Healthcare Access and Reform Award’ which was received on his behalf by Dr. Sanmi Oyerinde, Special Adviser on Primary Healthcare. The recognition acknowledges Osun State’s comprehensive healthcare reforms and particularly innovative approaches to expanding healthcare access in rural and underserved communities.
His Excellency, Hon. Dr. Mai Mala Buni, Executive Governor of Yobe State, represented by Commissioner for Health, Dr. Lawan Gana received the ‘Leadership Excellence in Equitable Healthcare Delivery and Social Welfare Award’. This award highlighted the state’s remarkable progress in addressing healthcare disparities and implementing effective strategies for strengthening primary healthcare systems throughout the region.
The ceremony particularly emphasized medical institutional leadership, with Prof. Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo, Chief Medical Director of University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan getting recognized for his transformative leadership approach. Under his guidance, UCH has continued to excel in medical education, cutting-edge research, and comprehensive patient care, exemplifying the caliber of leadership driving Nigeria’s tertiary healthcare institutions toward international standards.
Dr. Paul Agboola, Provost and Medical Director of Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, was honored for his significant contribution to mental healthcare services in Nigeria. His recognition brought much-needed attention to the critical but often overlooked area of psychiatric services, highlighting the importance of mental health in the country’s overall healthcare strategy and the need for continued investment in this crucial sector.
The awards also recognized excellence in specialized medical services, with Dr. Olalekan Olatise, Medical Director of Zenith Medical and Kidney Centre Abuja, receiving acknowledgment for outstanding work in nephrology services. This recognition emphasized the growing importance of specialized care in addressing Nigeria’s increasing burden of non-communicable diseases and the need for advanced treatment facilities across the country.
The pharmaceutical sector received significant recognition during the ceremony, with Pharm. Babashehu Ahmed, Registrar of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, being honored for his exemplary regulatory leadership in ensuring pharmaceutical standards and safety across the country. This recognition underscored the critical role of robust pharmaceutical regulation in maintaining healthcare quality, ensuring drug safety, and building public trust in the healthcare system.
A particularly inspiring moment of the evening came with the recognition of Ms. Omolola Fakeye JP, who was honored as the first female Director of Administration at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). Her groundbreaking achievement represents significant progress in healthcare leadership diversity and serves as a powerful source of inspiration for emerging female healthcare administrators across Nigeria and the broader West African region.
The ceremony’s most emotionally resonant moment occurred with the recognition of Alhaji A. A. Rano, Chairman of AA Rano Group of Companies, who received the ‘Most Outstanding Healthcare Community Support Award’.
Represented by Chief Kayode Adebiyi, Executive Director of AA Rano Group, the award acknowledged the company’s long-standing commitment to community health through sustained free healthcare support and extensive humanitarian contributions across Nigeria.
Giving his speech, Prof. Otegbayo emphasized that ‘this recognition goes beyond individual achievement—it highlights the crucial role of private sector engagement in strengthening our healthcare system. The award exemplified how visionary business leadership can drive meaningful community health impact through sustained philanthropic commitment and strategic community investment’.
The 2025 awards ceremony successfully built upon the strong foundation established in previous editions, which have consistently attracted high-profile winners and maintained rigorous standards of excellence. Recent honorees include distinguished figures such as Emeritus Professor Ayodele Falase and various healthcare institutions that have demonstrated exceptional innovation, service delivery, and commitment to improving health outcomes across Nigeria.
Previous editions have recognized diverse contributions across the entire healthcare spectrum, from media organizations like Nigerian Tribune Newspaper for outstanding healthcare reporting to specialized service providers like Caroline Medical Centre Abuja for dialysis services and Cynard Eye Port Harcourt for comprehensive eye care excellence. This broad recognition approach ensures that all aspects of healthcare delivery receive appropriate acknowledgment.
The international dimension of the awards was particularly evident in 2024, when Ebury Court Care Services from the United Kingdom received recognition, and NIPRO Medical Europe was honored at their headquarters in Belgium. These international recognitions demonstrate the global reach and increasing credibility of Nigerian healthcare excellence on the international stage.
What distinguishes the Dove Healthcare Awards from other recognition platforms is its strategic focus on system-wide improvement rather than mere ceremonial recognition. The ceremony serves multiple crucial functions: celebrating individual and institutional excellence, creating valuable networking opportunities for healthcare stakeholders, and generating actionable insights for policy development that can drive real change in Nigeria’s health sector.
The democratic voting process, which concluded on October 17, 2025, after intensive public participation, ensured meaningful community engagement in defining healthcare excellence. This innovative approach builds public awareness of healthcare achievements while fostering greater citizen participation in health system accountability, creating a more engaged and informed public discourse around healthcare quality and performance.
As the awards event came to an end at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, healthcare stakeholders departed with renewed commitment to ensuring a collaborative efforts that will build a stronger, and more equitable health system for all Nigerians. The Dove Healthcare Awards 2025 successfully achieved its ambitious goal of celebrating excellence while simultaneously strengthening the foundations for future healthcare transformation, establishing itself as an increasingly influential platform for driving systemic healthcare improvements across Nigeria and inspiring the next generation of healthcare leaders-Alhaji Tajudeen Kareem, a veteran journalist, writes from Abuja
