The Edo State Ministry of Health, has emerged as one of the Top 25 cities globally in the highly competitive Bloomberg Mayor’s Challenge, securing a prestigious $1 Million award.
This was disclosed in a statement released by the state’s commissioner for health, Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole. According to him, the global innovation competition, organized by Bloomberg Philanthropies, attracted over 600 cities worldwide.
“Edo State’s entry first made the Top 100 cities list, progressed to the Top 50 cities globally — earning a $50,000 prototype grant — and has now advanced into the Top 25 cities across 20 countries. Notably, Edo State stands as one of only four cities in Africa to reach this final stage.
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The journey to the final round was both rigorous and eventful. During the semi-final stage, the Edo State Ministry of Health team was scheduled to travel to Colombia to present its innovation. However, due to delays in visa processing and documentation, the travel clearance to Colombia arrived late, preventing the team from making the trip.”
The statement read that Bloomberg Philanthropies deployed a delegation from New York to Benin City for an in-person interactive assessment. The team held detailed engagement sessions with the Edo state health Commissioner and subsequently met with the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dennis Idahosa.
It added that observers describe d the visit as a strong endorsement of the credibility and global relevance of Edo State’s healthcare reform model.
Oshiomhole maintained that the process was intense, competitive, and transformative, emphasizing that the recognition reflects the resilience, innovation, and dedication of the Edo health team.
He noted that this latest achievement has put Benin City in a select group of global cities recognized for pioneering bold, scalable solutions to pressing urban challenges.
The $1 Million award is expected to further strengthen healthcare innovation and delivery systems in Benin city, reinforcing its growing reputation as a leader in public health reform in Africa.
