…..Reaffirms commitment to universal health coverage
. Retirees to benefit from free health insurance
. Health insurance enrolment hits 14 million nationwide – SSHIAs
By Tolulope Eniola
Ondo State Governor, Dr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, on Monday unveiled a N1 billion Hospital Intervention Fund to support the expansion and modernisation of healthcare facilities across the state, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to achieving universal health coverage.
Aiyedatiwa made the announcement at the Maiden National Summit of State Social Health Insurance Agencies (SSHIAs) held at the International Centre for Culture and Events (The Dome), Akure.
The governor also announced the inclusion of retirees in the Orange Health Insurance Scheme (ORANGHIS) at no cost, a move aimed at ensuring senior citizens have access to quality healthcare services without financial burden.
Speaking on the theme, “Economic Realities and the UHC Dream: Mobilising States for a Scalable Health Insurance,” the governor said social health insurance had become an economic necessity in view of the prevailing economic realities confronting many households.
According to him, health insurance remains one of the most effective ways of protecting citizens from catastrophic healthcare expenditures and ensuring that access to medical care is not determined by socioeconomic status.
He said his administration had continued to prioritise healthcare through the Ondo State Contributory Health Commission (ODCHC), which is driving efforts to expand health insurance coverage across the state.
Aiyedatiwa highlighted some of the state’s achievements in the health sector, including the Orange Health Insurance Scheme for public servants and workers in the informal sector, the Abiyamo Scheme for pregnant women and children under five, as well as the Ilera-Loro programme under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund for vulnerable residents.
The governor noted that vulnerable persons had been enrolled under the Ilera-Loro scheme across all 203 wards in the 18 local government areas of the state.
Announcing the free health insurance coverage for retirees, Aiyedatiwa said the initiative was designed to safeguard pensioners who had devoted their productive years to serving the state.
“Our retirees face unique age-related health challenges during a phase of life when medical bills can become overwhelming. By absorbing them into ORANGHIS free of charge, we are removing financial barriers to healthcare and ensuring they have access to quality medical services,” he said.
The governor explained that the newly approved N1 billion Hospital Intervention Fund would complement the state’s expanding health insurance programme by improving healthcare infrastructure and service delivery.
He stressed that health insurance could only be effective when supported by functional hospitals, modern medical equipment and motivated healthcare personnel.
To further strengthen the sector, Aiyedatiwa said the state government had commenced the construction and upgrading of healthcare facilities while also recruiting more health professionals.
He commended the Forum of Chief Executive Officers of State Social Health Insurance Agencies for organising the summit and bringing together critical stakeholders to discuss strategies for advancing universal health coverage in Nigeria.
The governor urged participants to use the summit to share ideas, exchange best practices and build partnerships that would strengthen the country’s health insurance ecosystem and improve healthcare access for millions of Nigerians.
Declaring the summit open, the governor reaffirmed Ondo State’s readiness to collaborate with stakeholders in promoting affordable and accessible healthcare for all.
In his welcome address, Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Awolowo-Ajaka, described the summit as a timely platform to address critical challenges in Nigeria’s health sector.
He said current economic realities required states to adopt innovative financing strategies to sustain healthcare delivery.
According to him, reliance on traditional funding models is no longer sufficient, stressing the need for efficient resource mobilisation, reduced leakages and expanded reach to the informal sector and vulnerable populations.
He noted that State Social Health Insurance Agencies remain central to achieving universal health coverage at the grassroots.
Awolowo-Ajaka added that achieving nationwide sustainability would require stronger collaboration among stakeholders.
He said the summit would enable chief executives of SSHIAs to share experiences, align strategies with the National Health Insurance Authority and adopt sustainable financing models.
Also speaking, Ekiti State Commissioner for Health and Chairman of the Forum of Health Commissioners, Dr Oyebanji Filani, commended Ondo State for recording the lowest neonatal and infant mortality rates in Nigeria.
He said data from the National Demographic and Health Survey showed neonatal mortality at three per 1,000 live births and infant mortality at eight per 1,000.
Filani noted that prior to the commencement of flight operations at Akure Airport, he had visited primary healthcare centres in Ondo State to understudy the system’s success.
He also commended President Bola Tinubu for increasing fiscal resources available to states, stressing that emphasis should now be placed on effective utilisation.
He said universal health coverage should be treated as a prioritisation framework rather than merely a financing issue.
Filani further disclosed that per capita health expenditure increased from about N2,200 in 2022 to N3,120 in 2025, while noting a decline in health budget allocation from 7.3 per cent to 5.2 per cent.
He urged state health insurance agencies to function as strategic purchasers of healthcare services and protect citizens from catastrophic health spending.
In his goodwill message, Chairman of the Forum of Chief Executive Officers of State Social Health Insurance Agencies and Director-General of the Katsina State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency, Dr Kabir Mustapha, described the summit as a milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards universal health coverage.
He said it marked the first coordinated gathering of all state health insurance agencies and the Federal Capital Territory under a unified platform.
Mustapha disclosed that over 14 million Nigerians had been enrolled into health insurance schemes as of April 2026.
He said the figure reflected the impact of decentralised health insurance implementation and demonstrated progress driven by state ownership and accountability.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for increasing funding for the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund from one per cent to two per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
According to him, the increase represents a significant boost to primary healthcare delivery and protection for vulnerable populations.
Mustapha also commended Ondo State for hosting the summit and acknowledged the reforms led by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate.
He further praised the National Health Insurance Authority for providing technical guidance and supporting state-level implementation, particularly through the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund 2.0.
He said the summit would enhance collaboration, learning and innovation across the health insurance ecosystem.
Also speaking, Senior Programme Manager of the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Abubakar Yerima, who represented the Country Director, Dr Olufunke Fasawe, described the summit as historic.
He said the theme reflected the central challenge of balancing universal health coverage ambitions with economic realities.
Yerima noted that the NHIA Act 2022 had strengthened legal frameworks for expanding coverage to the informal sector.
He stressed the need for community-based strategies, digital systems and inter-agency coordination to translate policy into results.
He assured continued technical support from CHAI to strengthen state-level health insurance systems.
On his part, Nasarawa State Commissioner for Health, Dr Gaza Gwamna, said global health systems were under pressure from rising costs, demographic changes and economic constraints.
He said universal health coverage remained a global priority but required sustainable financing models.
Gwamna described health insurance as a key mechanism for achieving financial protection and urged continued peer learning among states.
He commended Ondo State’s performance in health insurance implementation and called for wider coverage nationwide.
Special Adviser to the Ondo State Governor on Health, Prof Simidele Odimayo, attributed the state’s achievements to the governor’s commitment to healthcare reform.
He said the administration had renovated primary healthcare centres, strengthened secondary facilities and restructured tertiary institutions.
Odimayo disclosed that a N1 billion intervention fund had been approved for primary healthcare support.
He added that drug supply systems had been strengthened through the Ondo State Drugs and Health Commodity Management Agency, while thousands of health workers had been recruited.
He said these interventions had improved emergency response and strengthened industrial harmony in the health sector.
Meanwhile, Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, said rising out-of-pocket expenditure continued to expose Nigerians to financial hardship.
He noted that over 90 per cent of Nigerians remained outside the formal insurance system.
Ohiri said universal health coverage was essential to protecting citizens from medical poverty.
He disclosed that Nigeria had recorded more than 33 per cent growth in health insurance coverage since 2023, driven largely by state schemes.
He added that reforms had strengthened regulation, accountability and identity integration through the National Identification Number system.
He said growth was increasingly driven by enrolment of poor and vulnerable citizens under equity-focused programmes.
Dignitaries at the event included the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olayide Adelami; Chief of Staff, Prince Segun Omojuwa; Head of Service, Chief Segun Odusanya; members of the State Executive Council; representatives from the 36 states; and the Osemawe of Ondo, Oba (Dr) Victor Kiladejo.
Discover more from Trace News Magazine
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
