The Kebbi State governor, Nasir Idris has been conferred with the distinguished Award of Excellence in Healthcare Delivery and Human Capacity Development by the Postgraduate Medical College Fellows Association.

The awards, which was organised in collaboration with the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, was bestowed on Governor Idris for his investment in the healthcare delivery system in the state.

Governor Idris is the second individual from northern Nigeria to receive such an honour, underscoring his exceptional leadership in advancing healthcare within Kebbi State.

The College, established in September 1979, specialises in postgraduate training for specialist doctors across various medical fields, including surgery, gynaecology, cardiology, paediatrics, and pathology.

The award, scheduled to take place during the upcoming 19th Annual Scientific Conference and All Fellows Congress (ASCAF) will be hosted in Sokoto from August 3rd to 8th, 2025.

This marks the first time the conference will be convened in Sokoto, bringing together participants from Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara states.

The recognition was formally announced through a statement signed by Professors Simeon Isezuo and Jacob Ndas Legbo, who serve as Chairman and Secretary of the Local Organizing Committee respectively.

In the statement, the professors highlighted that the award was in recognition of Governor Idris’s significant strides in healthcare reform and capacity building.

They commended his efforts in recruiting over 500 health workers, which included doctors, nurses, and other essential personnel to boost the health system’s workforce.

Furthermore, the administration’s success in absorbing 390 casual health workers into the formal health sector has greatly stabilized service delivery in Kebbi.

Commenting on the awards, the Commissioner of Information and Culture, Yakubu Ahmed said the governors’ focus on upgrading healthcare infrastructure has been notable.

Under Governor Idris’ leadership, six general hospitals across the state have been modernized with new facilities and equipment, alongside renovation projects targeting selected primary healthcare centres.

He explained that the improvements aim to enhance overall health service quality and accessibility for the people of the state and beyond, especially those in remote and hard-to-reach communities.

He said: “A key aspect of these efforts involved enhancing referral systems, which was facilitated by the provision of modern ambulances. These ambulances have been strategically distributed to various health facilities, significantly reducing referral and transportation time for critically ill patients and those in need of advanced medical care. The upgraded facilities and improved transportation infrastructure are creating a more efficient healthcare delivery network within Kebbi state.”