Benin City wins $1m Bloomberg innovation award, emerges among world’s top cities

Benin City, Edo State capital, has secured a major international recognition after emerging among the top cities globally in the prestigious Bloomberg Mayor’s Challenge, winning a $1 million innovation award.

The global competition attracted participation from over 600 cities worldwide, with only 25 cities across 20 countries making the final list.

Benin City is notably one of only four African cities to achieve the milestone, placing the Edo State capital firmly on the global map of innovation and urban leadership.

The recognition highlights the city’s capacity to develop bold and practical solutions to pressing public challenges, particularly in the area of healthcare delivery.

Reacting to the development, Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, described the achievement as a reflection of the state government’s commitment to innovation and ongoing efforts to strengthen healthcare systems across the state.

“This recognition is a testament to innovation, resilience and the unwavering commitment of our team to transform healthcare delivery in Edo State. It reinforces that bold ideas from Benin City can compete — and win — on the global stage,” the governor said.

Okpebholo congratulated the Edo State Ministry of Health and the entire team that worked on the initiative, noting that the award demonstrates the state’s growing reputation as a hub for forward-thinking governance and impactful public sector reforms.

He also commended the people of Edo State for their continued support and confidence in the administration’s programmes and policies aimed at improving the welfare of citizens.

“Congratulations to my hardworking team and to the great people of Edo State. The world is watching, and we are just getting started,” he added.

The Bloomberg Mayor’s Challenge is widely regarded as one of the most competitive global platforms for cities to present innovative solutions to urban challenges. Selected cities receive funding and technical support to implement transformative ideas that can improve governance and service delivery.