5th Anniversary: NSSF Rebrands, Renews Focus On Youth-Led Health Equity
By FABIAN EKERUCHE
THE Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF) has commemorated its fifth anniversary with a rebrand and a bold new strategic direction, reaffirming its commitment to health equity, youth advocacy, and system-level solutions that expand access to care across Nigeria.
It was reported that NSSF was founded in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic by the Global Citizen and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
In her welcome address, Dr. Fejiro Chinye–Nwoko, Managing Director/CEO of NSSF, described the milestone as “more than a birthday; it is a moment of gratitude and recommitment.”
Chinye–Nwoko said that NSSF was initially conceived as an emergency response fund to support vulnerable families, strengthen health systems, and empower young people in the face of an unprecedented global crisis.
According to her, five years later, the fund has evolved into a dedicated health equity organisation, with programmes that have touched more than 31 million lives nationwide.
“Together, we’ve seen what is possible when compassion meets competence.
“Our anniversary theme, `Five Years, Thirty-One Million Stories’, captures the human truth behind the numbers: every data point is a mother, a child, a family, a future.
“We are proud of how far we have come, and we are even more energised about where we are going,” Chinye–Nwoko said.
As part of its forward strategy, Chinye–Nwoko said that the fund will now operate under the simplified name NSSF across all communications, adding that the rebrand signaled clarity of purpose and a stronger posture.
“NSSF’s new framework rests on two strategic pillars:
“Policy & Systems — Driving policy development, convening government and industry leaders, and translating local evidence into practical reforms that expand affordable, equitable healthcare.
“WeNaija (Youth Arm) — Equipping young Nigerians with the tools, mentorship, and funding to advocate, co-create solutions, and lead community health initiatives,” Chinye–Nwoko said.
Chinye–Nwoko noted that the dual approach ensured that “voices turn into evidence, and evidence turns into decisions that expand care for those historically left behind.”
Looking ahead, NSSF pledged to deepen its impact over the next phase by expanding youth-driven health literacy programmes.
“Supporting government through policy pilots that de-risk scale-up.
“Strengthening primary healthcare systems for women, children, and vulnerable families.
Mr. Tunde Folawiyo, Chairman of NSSF and Global Citizen, also emphasised the evolution of the organisation
“We have grown from crisis response to sustained advocacy and policy development; from short-term fixes to system-level solutions; and from isolated projects to youth-powered movements carrying impact into communities nationwide.
“The journey ahead is about deepening impact, listening to evidence, elevating youth voices, and keeping the most vulnerable at the center of our decisions,” Folawiyo said.
Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Vice Chairman of Global Citizen and NSSF Board Member, highlighted NSSF’s measurable impact.
According to him, 22.56 million Nigerians have been educated on preventive health measures, 12,000 frontline health workers trained, and 4.98 million people vaccinated against COVID-19.
He said that 156,125 children under-five were immunised, 20,651 pregnant women vaccinated against tetanus-diphtheria, 562 young Nigerians trained as advocates through the WeNaija Youth Programme, with 1,855 further mobilised nationwide.
(NAN)
