SSHIA CEOs Pledge Stronger Collaboration, Elect New Chair
By Hussaina Yakubu
April 10, 2026
Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of State Social Health Insurance Agencies (SSHIAs) have reaffirmed their commitment to work collectively toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria.
The immediate past Chairman of the forum, Dr Simeon Onyemechi, made the call while welcoming members to the forum’s 2026 first quarter meeting held in Abuja.
Onyemechi urged state health insurance agencies to strengthen collaboration, warning that Nigeria’s UHC target could only be realised through a unified approach.
“Let’s not allow anything to break our ranks. We must work shoulder to shoulder because if one state fails to do the needful regarding UHC, Nigeria cannot be said to have achieved it,” he said.
He likened the situation to Nigeria’s past polio eradication efforts, noting that the persistence of the disease in a single state once hindered national certification.
“The polio case is still fresh in our minds. If any state is left behind in this race, Nigeria will not attain universal health coverage,” Onyemechi added.
He also used the occasion to announce his exit as chairman following the completion of his two-term tenure as CEO of the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency, expressing gratitude to members for their support.
In her remarks, the forum’s Secretary General and CEO of Rivers State SHIA, Dr Vetty Agala, said the meeting aimed to review progress, identify challenges, and proffer solutions through peer learning.
Agala added that the forum would also conduct a bye-election to fill vacant positions, engage the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) on critical issues, and plan for an upcoming national summit.
Speaking on implementation updates, the forum’s Vice Chairman and Director-General of the Katsina State Contributory Health Management Agency, Mohammed Tukur Shafana, disclosed that enrollment figures across states had continued to rise.
“Enrollment figures have been increasing steadily, with implementation gaining traction across states. Some states that had not commenced are now on board. Currently, we have over 17 million enrollees across states, excluding NHIA data,” he said.
On the mandatory National Identification Number (NIN) requirement, Shafana noted that states had adopted innovative strategies to address challenges associated with enrollment.
“In Katsina, we identified individuals without NIN and gave them deadlines to comply or risk delisting.
We also collaborated with NIMC agents at facility levels to facilitate registration. Other states have adopted similar approaches,” he explained.
Highlights of the meeting included the conduct of a bye election, which saw Mallam Safana Mohammed affirmed as the substantive Chairman of the forum.
Dr Aledare emerged as Vice Chairman I, while Dr Divine Igwe was elected Vice Chairman II.
The forum also resolved to strengthen inter-state collaboration as part of efforts to achieve universal health coverage nationwide.
The meeting was attended by representatives from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
The Forum of CEOs of State Social Health Insurance Agencies serves as a peer-review platform for heads of state-level health insurance agencies in Nigeria.(NAN)
About Author
