By Kingsley Samuel
The Lagos State Health Management Agency, LASHMA, has emerged as Nigeria’s Best State Government Health Insurance Agency for the third time after winning the 2026 Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Award, NHEA, in recognition of its outstanding performance in expanding access to affordable healthcare.
The agency received the State Government Health Insurance of the Year award at the 12th Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Awards held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, reaffirming its position as one of the country’s leading public health insurance institutions.
Speaking after receiving the award, the Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, described the recognition as a validation of the agency’s commitment to ensuring that every Lagos resident has access to affordable, quality and equitable healthcare through sustainable health insurance.
She said: “This award is a testament to our unwavering commitment to ensuring that every Lagos resident has access to affordable, quality and equitable healthcare through sustainable health insurance.”
Zamba dedicated the award to Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat; members of the Lagos State House of Assembly; local government chairmen; development partners; philanthropists; stakeholders and residents of the state for their support and confidence in the agency.
She also appreciated Lagos residents and members of the public who voted for LASHMA, pledging that the agency would continue to introduce innovative initiatives aimed at expanding health insurance coverage and accelerating the attainment of Universal Health Coverage, UHC, across the state.
According to her, LASHMA remains committed to ensuring that all residents, irrespective of their socio-economic status, enjoy unhindered access to affordable, quality and equitable healthcare services.
Presenting the award, former Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Femi Olugbile, congratulated LASHMA for emerging the overall winner among five nominees.
Olugbile described the recognition as a reflection of the agency’s remarkable performance in the health insurance sector and urged it to sustain the momentum by developing more innovative strategies capable of accelerating universal health coverage in Lagos.
“The agency has a critical role to play in ensuring that more Lagos residents benefit from quality and affordable healthcare,” he said.
Earlier, Chairman of the NHEA Advisory Board, Dr. Anthony Omolola, said the awards, established in 2014, were created to recognise excellence, leadership and outstanding performance across Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
Speaking on this year’s theme, “Innovation, Local Manufacturing and Digital Transformation in Healthcare,” Omolola said innovation, strategic partnerships, artificial intelligence, local manufacturing and sustainable healthcare financing have become critical to building a resilient healthcare system.
He explained that winners emerged through an independent process involving research, public voting and rigorous evaluation by the advisory board, stressing that all nominations were based on credibility and measurable performance.
Omolola commended all nominees for their contributions to healthcare delivery despite prevailing challenges and encouraged them to sustain the pursuit of excellence.
LASHMA had previously won the State Government Health Insurance of the Year Award in 2023, shared the honour with Katsina State in 2025, and reclaimed the title outright in 2026, further strengthening its reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading public health insurance agencies.
