LASHMA retains top state health insurance award

The Lagos State Health Management Agency has won the Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Award for State Government Health Insurance of the Year 2026, marking the third time the agency has received the recognition for its contributions to health insurance delivery in Nigeria.

LASHMA emerged the winner of the category at the 12th Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Award ceremony held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, with organisers recognising the agency’s efforts in expanding access to affordable and quality healthcare services across Lagos State.

The award was presented to the Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr Emmanuella Zamba, by the former Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Femi Olugbile, the state government announced on Monday via its Facebook page.

Olugbile congratulated LASHMA for emerging as the winner among five nominees in the category, urging the agency to continue developing innovations that would support the Lagos State Government’s goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage.

“With this award, more work is required from the agency to ensure that Lagos residents have unhindered access to affordable, quality and equitable healthcare services,” Olugbile said.

The Chairman of the NHEA Advisory Board, Dr Anthony Omolola, said the award was established in 2014 to recognise excellence, leadership and outstanding performance across Nigeria’s healthcare sector.

Omolola explained that recipients were selected through a rigorous process involving research, public voting and independent evaluation by the advisory board.

“Every nomination is based on credibility,” he said.

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Speaking on the theme of the 2026 edition, “Innovation, Local Manufacturing and Digital Transformation in Healthcare,” Omolola said the healthcare sector had evolved beyond traditional approaches, with technology, partnerships, artificial intelligence, local production and sustainable financing becoming key drivers of modern healthcare delivery.

“Healthcare is not the way it used to be several years ago. It is now driven by ideas, partnership, artificial intelligence, local production of devices and sustainable financing,” he said.

Responding after receiving the award, Zamba thanked the organisers for recognising LASHMA’s contribution to the health insurance sector and appreciated stakeholders who supported the agency’s efforts.

She acknowledged the support of the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, members of the state House of Assembly, local government chairmen, partners and other stakeholders.

Zamba also appreciated Lagos residents and individuals who voted for the agency, promising that LASHMA would continue working towards expanding access to healthcare services regardless of residents’ socio-economic backgrounds.

“We will continue to do our best to ensure that residents in the state have access to affordable, quality and equitable healthcare services,” she said.

The latest recognition adds to LASHMA’s previous achievements at the NHEA, having won the State Government Health Insurance of the Year award in 2023, shared the award with Katsina State in 2025, and emerged as the winner again in 2026.