The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) has officially inducted 20 National Health Fellows (NHFs) as ILERA EKO Champions to energize and expand the state’s health insurance outreach, making sure no Lagos resident is left behind.
EpeInsights reports that as Lagos is putting young people at the centre of its drive to make healthcare accessible for all, this bold step is taken towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
At a stakeholder engagement held in Alausa, Ikeja, the Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, welcomed the fellows with a strong message of purpose and support.
Zamba emphasized the importance of their new role: not just as health ambassadors, but as change-makers with a clear mandate to push the ILERA EKO scheme across all local government areas.
“These fellows represent a new era in health leadership,” Dr. Zamba said. “Their fresh energy, community reach, and innovative thinking will help us build a healthier Lagos—one resident at a time.”
She also praised the Federal Government for launching the National Health Fellows Programme (NHFP) and reaffirmed Lagos’ commitment to nurturing young leaders who can help transform the healthcare landscape, especially at the grassroots.
The induction of the fellows is aligned with the Executive Order signed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in July 2024, mandating health insurance for every Lagosian.
Dr. Zamba stressed that for such a major reform to succeed, the government needs passionate, smart, and connected young people, exactly what the fellows represent.
Throughout the event, speakers highlighted the fellows’ role in driving awareness, registration, and enrollment into the ILERA EKO health plan.
The fellows also got a deep dive into LASHMA’s work, learning about the scheme’s supply-demand model, the EKO Social Health Alliance (EKOSHA), and the broader vision behind Lagos’ health sector transformation.
Director of Healthcare Planning, Dr. Jumoke Oyenuga, and SWAP Desk Officer, Dr. Oyeyemi Ogunjobi, both emphasized how this initiative isn’t just about policy—it’s about people.
They encouraged the fellows to take ownership, innovate, and collaborate with their communities to ensure the ILERA EKO message truly lands.
On her part, LASHMA’s Director of Admin and HR, Mrs. Olufunke Longe, added a motivational note, urging the fellows to carry the agency’s core values with pride and drive the change Lagos needs.
Speaking on behalf of the inducted fellows, Sophie Adeyeye from Ikeja LGA expressed gratitude and pledged full commitment from the entire cohort:
“We’re ready to give our best. This is not just a role—it’s a responsibility, and we’re here to make a real difference.”
With this fresh injection of youth leadership, Lagos is reinforcing its position as a forward-thinking state, leveraging the power of its young citizens to drive one of the most critical public service goals—affordable, accessible healthcare for all.
