Lagos pulled out all the stops on Wednesday to celebrate ILERA EKO Day 2025, with a strong message: healthcare for all is not just a promise it’s happening.
EpeInsights reports that the event marked a major milestone as the Lagos State Health Scheme (LSHS) hit over one million enrollees, a tenfold increase since its inception.
First Lady Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu was the star of the day, hailed for her advocacy and officially named the ILERA EKO Icon and Grand Dame of EKOSHA.
In her speech, she called the scheme a “lifeline” for families and urged Lagosians to enroll and support the initiative, especially for the vulnerable.
“Health insurance is a right, not a privilege,” she said. “Let’s make it the norm, not the exception.”
The event also served as a platform for unveiling new health benefits for public servants, including: Cancer treatment up to ₦5 million, dialysis support for 52 weeks, orthopedic surgeries, fibroid removals, and prosthetics, access to care in 15 Ogun State facilities for those living in border towns
These upgrades, announced by Head of Service Bode Agoro, are being hailed as “a game-changer for public sector healthcare.”
Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, praised the scheme’s digital leap with tools like the ILERA EKO App, telemedicine services, and Virtual Booths making quality healthcare more accessible across the state.
From orphans and seniors to market women and school children, ILERA EKO is tailoring plans to meet real-life needs. “It’s not just a policy,” said LASHMA Chairman, Dr. Adebayo Adedewe.
