New lease of life: Health and social safety nets reach Nigeria’s most vulnerable
Orisemeke Benjamin
In a major breakthrough for social welfare, more than 3,600 women, men, and children across Nigeria’s vulnerable cocoa-growing and artisanal mining communities are finally receiving a vital safety net. Covering 16 remote communities across Ondo, Niger, and Osun States, a sweeping new initiative has successfully enrolled families into state health insurance schemes and connected them to broader public assistance, fundamentally changing the daily reality of thousands.
The joint intervention was spearheaded by the International Labour Organization (ILO) through its ACCEL Africa II Project, which is funded by the Government of the Netherlands. By teaming up with national and state partners, the project aims to eradicate a major driver of child labour: absolute financial vulnerability. For the target households, accessing medical care will no longer mean choosing between buying food or paying catastrophic hospital bills.
Beyond immediate healthcare, the integrated campaign brought essential civic services directly to these marginalized communities. Hundreds of households were registered or updated in the State Social Register, opening doors to government social assistance. Additionally, residents received hands-on support to obtain or validate their National Identification Numbers (NIN), a crucial first step in securing long-term citizenship rights and public interventions.
“This intervention demonstrates how partnerships can make social protection more accessible to those who need it most,” the ILO stated. “When vulnerable families have access to healthcare, they are better able to cope with shocks, protect their livelihoods, and keep children in school rather than at work.”
The campaign spanned major rural hubs, including Fagbo and Aponmu in Ondo; Tutungo and Kuchiko in Niger; and Yekemi and Olode in Osun. Robust community sensitization sessions accompanied the registrations, educating families on their rights to healthcare and social safety nets.
Hajia Hauwa Aliyu, representing the State Operations Coordinating Unit (SOCU) in Niger State, noted that capturing accurate beneficiary data ensures these communities remain visible to future government support. Local leaders also expressed deep gratitude, noting that the campaign has enlightened residents on how protecting children builds a stronger future.
By linking health insurance, identity registration, and social assistance in a single community-based push, the ACCEL Africa II Project is successfully dismantling the underlying economic pressures that push children into hazardous labour. With improved financial security, these families are now better equipped to invest in their children’s education, health, and future.
