The Governing Board of the Kogi State Health Insurance Agency (KGSHIA) has approved the payment of a 5% commission on the annual premium of the Informal Sector Health Insurance Plan to facilitators and marketers of KGSHIA Informal Sector Plan Subscription as part of efforts to scale up enrollment and expand health coverage in the state.
This resolution was reached during the agency’s second quarter board meeting for the year 2025, held at the KGSHIA Conference Hall in Lokoja.
The meeting, presided over by the Board Chairman, Pharm. Suberu Arikochonu, featured comprehensive deliberations on operational progress, strategic challenges, and innovative interventions aimed at deepening the agency’s reach among residents, especially those in the informal sector.
Delivering his opening remarks and briefing, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of KGSHIA, Dr. Adekunle Aledare, presented updates on the agency’s achievements and ongoing initiatives.
Notably, he revealed that a major challenge confronting the agency may soon be resolved, as the Kogi State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, has hinted at Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s plan to provide more funding for expansion of the Agency’s activities
Dr. Aledare detailed a number of activities successfully implemented by the agency in the first quarter of 2025. These include: State-wide sensitization campaigns across Kogi-owned tertiary institutions to promote the Tertiary Institutions Social Health Insurance Programme (TISHIP), Commencement of data capturing and enrollment of Local Government workers under the Formal Sector Plan across all 21 LGAs.
Others are Strategic engagement visits to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, sensitization “road walk” organized in partnership with NYSC members, promoting the Vital Contributor Plan to the general public.
The rest are; high-level stakeholder engagement session with leaders of informal sector associations such as the Market Women Association, Tricycle and Motorcycle Operators, NURTW, and media experts, focused on boosting informal sector enrollment.
A significant highlight of the meeting was the presentation and approval of a memo from the KGSHIA management, seeking approval to pay a 5% commission (₦750) on the ₦15,000 per annum premium to individuals, groups, or organizations that successfully enroll persons into the Vital Contributor Plan, KGSHIA’s health insurance product for the informal sector.
Dr. Aledare explained that this model, already adopted in other states, was recommended during peer-review learning sessions at the Social Health Insurance Agencies’ Forum. He emphasized that low enrollment in the informal sector and the unsustainability of free health insurance schemes necessitate incentivized community marketing approaches.
After extensive deliberations and democratic voting by board members, the memo was approved by majority consensus.
The board passed a unanimous vote of confidence on Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his political will, support, and commitment to health reforms, which have contributed to the steady growth of the agency. Special commendation was also extended to Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, the State Commissioner for Health, for his unwavering zeal and drive in repositioning the Ministry and extending that impact to KGSHIA.
The board lauded Dr. Aledare’s visionary leadership and tireless efforts in steering KGSHIA from its 2019 inception with zero enrollees to a milestone of over 245,000 active enrollees across the state, a feat widely acknowledged as a significant step towards achieving Universal Health Coverage in Kogi State.
The board resolved to intensify efforts to support the agency in scaling up health insurance coverage and sustaining the momentum of success recorded so far.
