..as Southwest States Target seamless, State-to-State Health Insurance Access

By Mary Agidi

Akure, Nigeria – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has emphasised the need for inclusive and regionally integrated health insurance schemes that leave no child behind, regardless of their location or socio-economic background.

This call was made by the Social Policy Manager of UNICEF Nigeria, Muhammad Okorie, at the Southwest Regional Health Insurance Conference held in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Wednesday, 25th June 2025.

Okorie described health insurance as one of the most vital programmes for promoting the rights of children, especially the right to health, which he said is foundational to achieving other rights, such as education.

“For us at UNICEF, this is about the most important programme that supports the rights of the child, because we are talking about health insurance. When we talk about health, we mean universal health coverage — where every child receives the healthcare they need, not based on their ability to pay, but based on their needs,” he said.

He commended the Southwest region for embracing the concept of regional integration through the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, saying it provides a unique opportunity for states to share experiences and work towards seamless healthcare access across state lines.

“We are excited about the possibility where a child enrolled in one state can access healthcare services in another. This is a major step in removing not just financial but also geographical barriers to healthcare,” he added.

Okorie, however, raised concerns about children in underserved environments — such as those living on the streets, in orphanages, or whose parents are not registered under any health scheme.

“We must ask: are all children truly covered? What happens to those in orphanages or on the streets? Children should ideally be in households, and insurance schemes should include those households — but what about those left out?”

To ensure equity in health insurance coverage, he called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders, saying, “Government must effectively fund the health insurance, the equity  component of it. Of course, in health insurance people pay, people subscribe to it, but there is a component of it that actually takes care of those who families and individuals who are not able to pay. So, we (UNICEF) are actually more interested in that, where government is able to invest more in those aspects to be able to reach out to all children wherever they are”.

Okorie stressed that while health insurance schemes now exist in all Nigerian states in line with the National Health Act, coverage remains low, particularly among women and children, citing the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS).

“This conference is critical. It is a chance for public and private stakeholders to sit down and design workable mechanisms that guarantee every child is insured, no matter where they are. It is the gateway to fulfilling all other rights of the child,” he averred.

He urged states in the Southwest to continue leading by example through innovative strategies that ensure every child, regardless of their circumstance, is covered.



Earlier, in his welcome address, the Director-General of the Ondo State Contributory Health Commission, Dr. Abiodun Oyeneyin, said the conference, hosted by Ondo State in collaboration with the DAWN Commission, reflects a shared commitment to advancing health insurance coverage and improving the wellbeing of people across the Southwest region.

According to him, the theme of the conference, “Attaining Universal Health Coverage through Strengthened Health Insurance”, highlights the collective responsibility needed to ensure that quality healthcare is within the reach of every individual, regardless of their background or means.

“The Southwest states have made meaningful strides in expanding health insurance coverage and improving health outcomes, but we recognize that more work lies ahead. This conference is a platform to deepen our understanding of the barriers to coverage, identify best practices, and strengthen partnerships that will drive sustainable change,” he said.

The Head of Programmes at the DAWN Commission, Mr. Abiodun Oladipo, emphasized the need for stronger regional collaboration among Southwest states to ease the burden of out-of-pocket healthcare expenses and fast-track Universal Health Coverage.

While commending the Ondo State Government for hosting the dialogue, he noted that over 75% of healthcare spending in Nigeria is still paid directly by individuals — an unsustainable model that hinders equitable access.

He stressed that although individual states have made commendable efforts in implementing health insurance schemes, a harmonized regional approach would yield far greater impact.

“Our collective impact can be exponentially greater when we harmonize our efforts, share our experiences, and leverage our combined strengths. The goal is simple yet transformative: ensuring that a citizen from Lagos can access quality healthcare in Oyo, or that someone from Ekiti can receive seamless care in Osun,” he said.

Speaking on the conference theme, Dr. Okunola Olumide of the World Bank emphasized the urgent need for Nigerian governments to invest more in health insurance.

According to him, the level of government spending across all sectors in Nigeria is abysmally low. He noted that while state governments are now receiving nearly double the revenue compared to previous years, what they allocate to health, as a share of GDP, remains lower than in many countries.

As development partners gradually withdraw, he called on stakeholders to intensify advocacy for greater government involvement, stressing that investment in human capital development must begin with the health sector.

The two-day conference brought together policymakers, health administrators, and development partners from the six southwestern states to explore strategies for deepening health insurance coverage and fostering social protection for vulnerable populations in the region.