By Pat Gbemudu,
Director-General of the Delta State Contributory Health Commission (DSCHC), Dr. Isaac Akpoveta, has been honoured with the 2026 Award of Excellence for his outstanding contributions to the advancement of social health insurance and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria.
The prestigious award was presented at the closing ceremony of the 2026 National Summit of State Social Health Insurance Agencies (SSHIA) in Akure, Ondo State, where health insurance chief executives, policymakers, development partners, and healthcare stakeholders gathered to review progress and chart a sustainable path toward universal healthcare access.
Presenting the award, Chairman of SSHIA and Director-General of the Katsina State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency, Mr. Mohammed Safana, praised Akpoveta's transformative leadership, noting that Delta State has emerged as one of Nigeria's leading performers in health insurance coverage under his stewardship.
Safana highlighted the state's impressive strides in enrolment, service delivery, healthcare access for vulnerable populations, and innovative health financing initiatives, describing Delta as a model for other states seeking to expand health insurance coverage.
The award also recognised Akpoveta's contributions to strengthening partnerships, promoting sustainable healthcare financing, and advancing policies that have accelerated the growth of social health insurance across the country.
Participants at the summit commended his commitment to equitable healthcare access and described him as one of the leading voices driving the push for Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria.
Receiving the award, Akpoveta dedicated the Award to Governor Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the Delta State Government, healthcare workers, development partners, and the entire DSCHC team for their collective efforts in transforming healthcare delivery in the state.
He said the recognition would inspire greater commitment toward expanding health insurance coverage and ensuring that more Deltans have access to quality and affordable healthcare services.
Akpoveta reaffirmed the Commission's dedication to achieving national Universal Health Coverage targets, stressing that health insurance remains one of the most effective tools for reducing out-of-pocket healthcare expenses and protecting families from financial hardship caused by medical emergencies.
The summit featured high-level panel discussions, exhibitions, and knowledge-sharing sessions focused on increasing enrolment, improving service quality, strengthening healthcare financing mechanisms, and accelerating progress toward universal health coverage across Nigeria.
