By Pat Gbemudu
Director-General of the Delta State Contributory Health Commission (DSCHC), Dr. Isaac Akpoveta, has been honoured with an Award of Excellence in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the growth and implementation of social health insurance in Nigeria.
The prestigious award was presented during the closing ceremony of the 2026 National Summit of State Social Health Insurance Agencies (SSHIA) held in Akure, Ondo State.
The summit brought together heads of state social health insurance agencies, policymakers, healthcare providers and development partners to assess progress made towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and to explore strategies for expanding access to affordable healthcare across the country.
Presenting the award, Chairman of the State Social Health Insurance Agencies and Director-General of the Katsina Contributory Healthcare Management Agency, Mohammed Safana, lauded Akpoveta’s leadership and commitment to strengthening health insurance coverage.
Safana noted that under Akpoveta’s stewardship, Delta State has emerged as one of Nigeria’s leading performers in health insurance administration, recording significant progress in enrolment, service delivery and the protection of vulnerable populations.
He also commended the DSCHC boss for championing innovative healthcare financing initiatives and fostering strategic partnerships that have contributed to the advancement of social health insurance nationwide.
According to him, Akpoveta’s efforts have positioned him as a leading advocate for sustainable healthcare financing and equitable access to quality healthcare services.
Responding to the honour, Akpoveta dedicated the award to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, the Delta State Government, healthcare workers, development partners and members of the DSCHC team for their collective contributions to the commission’s achievements.
He described the recognition as an encouragement to intensify efforts towards expanding health insurance coverage and improving access to quality healthcare services for residents of Delta State.
Akpoveta reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s Universal Health Coverage agenda, stressing that health insurance remains a critical tool for reducing out-of-pocket healthcare expenses and protecting families from financial hardship arising from medical costs.
The summit featured panel discussions, exhibitions and knowledge-sharing sessions focused on increasing enrolment, improving service delivery standards and ensuring sustainable financing for state health insurance schemes across the country.
