The Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF) says it has reached more than 31 million Nigerians in its first five years of operations, even as it is aiming to expand health coverage to at least 20 percent of Nigerian women over the next five years.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos themed “Five Years, Thirty-One Million Stories,” the organisation revealed that its interventions have already touched more than 31 million lives since inception. From educating millions of Nigerians on preventive health measures and training thousands of frontline health workers, to vaccinating millions against COVID-19 and supporting maternal and child immunisation, the Fund has grown from an emergency response mechanism into a national force for health equity.
Tunde Folawiyo, NSSF board chairman, described the milestone as both a celebration and a recommitment, while explaining that the anniversary theme was a reminder that every data point represents a mother, a child, a family and a future.
“Our anniversary theme: ‘Five Years, Thirty-One Million Stories,’ reminds us that every data point is a mother, a child, a family, a future. This moment is both a celebration and a recommitment,” Folawiyo stated.
Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, NSSF board member and vice chairman of Global Citizen, added that the journey had demonstrated that measurable progress was possible even in the most challenging times, noting that the pandemic revealed deep inequities in access to care which the Fund has sought to address.
Aig-Imoukhuede highlighted NSSF’s measurable impact, which include 22.56 million Nigerians educated on preventive health measures; 12,000 frontline health workers trained; 4.98 million people vaccinated against COVID-19; 156,125 children under five immunized; 20,651 pregnant women vaccinated against tetanus-diphtheria and 562 young Nigerians trained as advocates through the WeNaija Youth Program, with 1,855 further mobilized nationwide.
As part of its forward strategy, the Fund will now operate under the simplified name NSSF across all communications. This rebranding signal a clarity of purpose and a stronger posture.
NSSF’s new framework rests on two strategic pillars:
NSSF Policy (Mainstream): policy engagement, evidence generation, and system-level advocacy, especially around maternal health, primary health systems, and health financing, to remove structural barriers to care at national and sub-national levels.
WeNaija by NSSF (Youth Arm): a youth-centered platform that trains, mentors, and funds young Nigerians to gather data, advocate, and co-create local solutions, because sustainable health transformation must include youth.
In her rebranding address, Dr. Fejiro Chinye-Nwoko, MD/CEO of NSSF, underscored the organization’s evolution and mandate, stating, “Five years ago, we began as an emergency response. Today, we stand as a health-equity organization with a clear mandate: to address Nigeria’s most pressing health issues through youth advocacy and policy development. Our work is about turning voices into evidence, and evidence into decisions that expand access to care, especially for those historically left behind.”
The next phase of NSSF’s work will place stronger emphasis on women and youth. With more than 70 percent of healthcare expenses in Nigeria still funded out of pocket and less than seven percent of the population covered by insurance, women are often the last to receive care within households.
Chinye-Nwoko, MD/CEO of NSSF, said the Fund is committed to working with partners such as the National Health Insurance Authority to increase coverage to at least 20 percent of Nigerian women within five years. She explained that improving access for women would not only reduce maternal and infant mortality but also strengthen households and communities.
The Fund also plans to scale up its youth platform, WeNaija, into a nationwide engine of youth-led health advocacy. By providing training, mentorship, micro-grants and advocacy opportunities, NSSF hopes to ensure that at least one in four young Nigerians gains the health literacy needed to safeguard their wellbeing and influence policy outcomes.
According to Chinye-Nwoko, the aim is to turn community voices into evidence and evidence into policy decisions that expand access to care.
What began as an emergency COVID-19 response has now matured into a long-term equity agenda, with NSSF set to channel grassroots insights into actionable policy briefs tied to decision-makers and timelines. The Fund intends to convene multi-stakeholder dialogues, institutionalise youth advocacy, and ensure that future health frameworks in Nigeria are designed with a clear equity lens.
The Fund’s leadership paid tribute to its staff, partners and frontline workers for sustaining the work of building a healthier and more inclusive Nigeria. “Five years ago, we responded to a crisis. Today, we stand as a health-equity organisation with a mandate to ensure that no Nigerian is left behind,” Chinye-Nwoko added.
