The Kebbi State Government has announced that Governor Nasir Idris’s recruitment of 890 health workers has successfully resolved the personnel crisis in the state’s health sector.
This intervention includes the formal employment of 500 medical professionals – doctors, nurses and essential staff – along with the absorption of 390 casual workers into the healthcare system.
These reforms have earned Governor Idris the prestigious “Excellence in Healthcare Delivery and Human Capacity Development” award from the Postgraduate Medical College Fellows Association and National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria.
Commissioner for Information and Culture Yakubu Ahmed revealed this makes Idris only the second Northerner to receive this honor.
“The award ceremony is scheduled to take place during the upcoming 19th Annual Scientific Conference and All Fellows Congress (ASCAF), to be hosted in Sokoto from August 3rd to 8th, 2025,” Ahmed stated. “This marks the first time the prestigious conference will be held in Sokoto, bringing together participants from Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara States.”
The selection was announced in a joint statement by Professors Simeon Isezuo and Jacob Ndas Legbo, Chairman and Secretary of the Local Organizing Committee respectively. They commended Idris’s comprehensive reforms including: Modernization of six general hospitals with new facilities; Renovation of primary healthcare centers; Deployment of modern ambulances to improve referral systems; Distribution of free delivery kits to pregnant women; Domestication of free psychiatric medication benefiting 20,000+ patients
“This accolade positions him as only the second individual from Northern Nigeria to receive such an honor, underscoring his exceptional leadership in advancing healthcare within Kebbi State,” Ahmed emphasized.
The reforms have yielded measurable improvements, including reduced maternal and under-five mortality rates. The administration’s support for the Kebbi State Contributory Health Agency has also increased healthcare access for vulnerable populations.
The National Postgraduate Medical College, established in 1979, trains specialist doctors across various fields including surgery, gynecology and pediatrics. Its recognition of Kebbi’s progress highlights the potential for rapid healthcare transformation in Nigeria.
As ASCAF convenes in Sokoto, Kebbi’s achievements are expected to inspire regional collaboration and address the chronic shortage of medical specialists in northern Nigeria. The governor’s two-year reforms demonstrate how strategic investments in infrastructure, personnel and community programs can significantly improve health outcomes.
