Health Coverage Reaches More Vulnerable Families in Nigeria

More than 3,600 women, men and children living in vulnerable cocoa-growing and artisanal mining communities across Ondo, Niger and Osun States are now better protected against illness, financial hardship and social exclusion, following a joint initiative by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and its national and state partners.

Through the ILO's ACCEL Africa II Project, funded by the Government of the Netherlands, families who previously had limited access to essential social services have been enrolled in state health insurance schemes and connected to broader social protection programmes. For many households, this means that seeking medical care will no longer require choosing between paying hospital bills and meeting basic daily needs.

Beyond healthcare enrolment, hundreds of vulnerable households were registered or updated in the State Social Register, creating new opportunities to access government social assistance programmes. Community members also received support to obtain or validate their National Identification Numbers (NIN), an important step towards accessing public services and social interventions.

The outreach reached sixteen communities across Ondo, Niger and Osun States, where awareness campaigns also helped families understand their rights to health care and social protection. More than 3,600 community members participated in these sensitization sessions, strengthening local knowledge of available services and how to access them.

"This intervention demonstrates how partnerships can make social protection more accessible to those who need it most," said the International Labour Organization. "When vulnerable families have access to healthcare and social protection, they are better able to cope with shocks, protect their livelihoods and keep children in school rather than at work."

The initiative was implemented in partnership with the Ondo State Contributory Health Commission (ODCHC), the Niger State Contributory Health Agency (NiCare), the Osun State Health Insurance Agency (OSHIA), the State Operations Coordinating Units (SOCU), the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

By linking health insurance, social protection and identity registration in a single community-based intervention, the programme has strengthened pathways for vulnerable households to access essential services while addressing some of the underlying drivers of child labour. Families with improved financial security and access to healthcare are better positioned to invest in their children's education, health and future, contributing to safer, more resilient communities.

Testimonies of the beneficiaries include Hajia Habibah Umar, From Niger State Child Rights Agency (NiCare) who said: “This initiative provides an opportunity for marginalized communities to benefit from health insurance coverage…”. Hajia Hauwa Aliyu, From State Operations Coordinating Unit (SOCU) Representative, Niger State stated:  “As the State Operations Coordinating Unit, we are supporting the ILO to capture beneficiary data and help communities update their records…”. Testimony from the Village Head of Iwa Community - Saidu Umar further stated: "We appreciate the support provided through the ILO-sponsored ACCEL Africa campaign. The knowledge gained has helped our community understand that protecting children and supporting families are important steps towards building a better future."

The community outreach campaign was conducted between June 8 and 26, 2026 across 16 cocoa-growing and artisanal mining communities in Ondo, Niger and Osun States. The exercise covered communities including Fagbo I and II, Bamikemo, Wasimi Odunwo, Oke-Agunla, Aponmu and Ipoba in Ondo State; Tutungo, Kuchiko, Kuchiko Camp and Iwa in Niger State; and Yekemi, Ayeoba, Olode, Ibala and Idoka in Osun State. Led by the ILO through the ACCEL Africa II Project in collaboration with state health insurance agencies, the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO), the State Operations Coordinating Units (SOCU) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the integrated campaign combined health insurance enrolment, social register registration, National Identification Number (NIN) services and community sensitization, bringing multiple essential services directly to vulnerable households in a single coordinated intervention.

The intervention forms part of the ILO's ACCEL Africa II Project, which supports efforts to eliminate child labour in cocoa and artisanal gold mining supply chains by expanding decent work opportunities and strengthening social protection systems for vulnerable populations across Africa.