By Abigail David
Ultimate Health Management Services has intensified efforts to expand affordable health insurance coverage for Nigeria’s largely uninsured informal sector through strategic partnerships and awareness campaigns.
The initiative was highlighted during a meeting in Lagos with a delegation from the Chartered Institute of Directors (CIoD) Nigeria, led by Assistant Director Adekemi Parker, where both organisations explored collaboration to improve health insurance penetration and governance standards in the sector.
At the centre of the initiative is a new health insurance package designed for artisans, traders, transport operators, ICT professionals and small business owners. According to Ultimate Health Managing Director, Lekan Ewenla, the scheme costs N38,000 annually per enrollee and is structured to provide accessible healthcare for workers outside the formal employment sector.
Ewenla said the programme aims to reduce the heavy reliance on out-of-pocket medical expenses, noting that inadequate awareness and limited access to information remain major barriers to health insurance adoption in Nigeria.
He added that the company is working with organised informal sector groups and institutional partners to drive enrolment and improve access to timely healthcare services.
Official data from the 2025 State of Health of the Nation Report shows that health insurance coverage in Nigeria increased from 19.2 million people in 2024 to 21.7 million in 2025, representing about 13 per cent of the population.
CIoD said the collaboration aligns with its commitment to strengthening corporate governance and improving service delivery in critical sectors, including healthcare.
