Health insurance experts and industry stakeholders have called for sustained investment in capacity building, stronger institutions and strategic partnerships to accelerate Nigeria’s journey toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The call was made at the 2026 Health Insurance and Managed Care National Leadership Award of Excellence organised by the Institute for Health Insurance and Managed Care of Nigeria (IHIMN), with the theme, “Building Robust Capacity for Universal Health Coverage.”
Delivering the keynote address, the Patron of IHIMN and former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Muhammed Mustafa Lecky, described health insurance as the most sustainable model for financing healthcare, stressing that expanding insurance coverage remains critical to improving access to quality medical services and shielding Nigerians from catastrophic healthcare costs.
Lecky expressed optimism about the future of health insurance in Nigeria, noting that continuous investment in capacity development and professional training would strengthen the sector and expand coverage across the country.
National Coordinator of IHIMN, Dr. Moses Aiyebowo, said the institute has remained at the forefront of developing skilled professionals for Nigeria’s health insurance industry through specialised training, certification and licensing programmes.
He disclosed that the institute also serves as a training consultant to several state governments and collaborates with Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) to strengthen healthcare financing nationwide.
According to him, millions of Nigerians are now benefiting from health insurance, resulting in improved access to healthcare while creating employment opportunities across the sector.
He stressed that professionalism, transparency and strict compliance with standards are indispensable to building public confidence in health insurance.
“You can’t cut corners with health insurance,” Aiyebowo said.
He further advocated stronger collaboration between IHIMN, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) to deepen awareness and expand health insurance coverage, particularly at the grassroots.
Chairman of the Board of Fellows of IHIMN and former General Manager (Technical Operations) of the NHIS, Dr. Hope Uweja, also underscored the need for continuous investment in human capital, institutional strengthening and professional standards.
He maintained that sustained collaboration among governments, regulators and industry stakeholders remains essential to building a resilient health insurance system capable of delivering Universal Health Coverage for all Nigerians.
The event culminated in the presentation of the Health Insurance and Managed Care National Leadership Awards 2026, recognising states and institutions for excellence, innovation and outstanding contributions to health insurance development.
Akwa Ibom State received the Outstanding Contribution to Health Insurance Development in Nigeria Award 2026 and the Fastest Growing Agency in Healthcare Coverage Award, while Bayelsa State won the Best Health Insurance Agency in ICT Innovation Systems Award 2026.
Cross River State was honoured with the Outstanding Commitment to Equitable Healthcare Access Award, Delta State received the Governor of the Year in State Social Health Insurance in Nigeria Award, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) won the Excellence in Health Insurance Administration Award 2026.
Other recipients included Imo State, which clinched the Grand Award for Excellence in Health Insurance Leadership 2026; Kebbi State, honoured with the Best Agency in Project Management Award 2026; Lagos State, recognised with the Outstanding Female Health Insurance Leader of the Year 2026 Award; Ondo State, which received the Best Agency in Benefit Package Management Award 2026; Sokoto State, honoured with the Excellence in Social Health Protection Award 2026; and the Yobe State Health Insurance Agency, which won the Beneficiary Satisfaction Excellence Award 2026.