By Bunmi Yekini
The Lagos State Health Management Agency has honoured 12 outstanding students and youth advocates following the successful conclusion of the ILERA EKO Essay Competition, an initiative aimed at deepening awareness of universal health coverage and expanding public understanding of affordable healthcare access in Lagos State.
Speaking during the Y2026 first quarter media parley held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Alausa, Ikeja, on Monday, April 27, 2026, the Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, described the competition as a strategic investment in youth engagement and healthcare sustainability.
Zamba said the initiative was designed to nurture a generation that understands the importance of health insurance, preventive healthcare, and personal well-being, while also encouraging young people to become advocates for accessible healthcare within their communities.
She noted that the competition attracted 731 entries from pupils, students, and youths across Lagos State, with 500 submissions meeting the assessment criteria for evaluation.
“Today, we proudly celebrate 12 outstanding winners across four categories, alongside their parents and teachers. This initiative reflects growing awareness among young people and reinforces our vision of nurturing a generation that values health insurance and personal well-being,” she said.
The winners were formally decorated as ILERA EKO Advocates during the media parley, while certificates and dummy cheques were presented in recognition of their advocacy efforts and contributions toward promoting affordable healthcare awareness.
Also speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Olanrewaju Bajulaiye, described the initiative as an investment in the future of Lagos State.
“This is the first time we are actually taking care of our future. I sat down there and I saw the children and I said to myself, anything that you want done, you should let it be done by the children,” Bajulaiye said.
Referencing the importance of early orientation and value-building, he added, “Teach children on the way to go, when they grow up they will not depart from it.”
He said the inclusion of the children in the quarterly media parley added “spice” to the engagement and would help deepen public awareness about the ILERA EKO Health Insurance Scheme.
“I know once you tell the children this is good and they buy into it, it’s something that will go round and round and will continue that way. Some of us still hold tightly to things we learned as children and they are still working for us today,” he said.
Bajulaiye urged the winners to become ambassadors of the health insurance scheme in their schools and communities.
“You should go back to school and tell people about LASHMA. When you get back home, tell your parents about LASHMA. Tell your friends, tell everyone around you that the government is set to bring good health to our various doorsteps,” he said.
He also commended journalists and parents for supporting the initiative, saying public enlightenment would become easier once children embraced the message.
“Work is done once the children buy into this. Some of them have gone through competitions, research and emerged tops in various categories. I want us to let the whole world know what we are doing here today,” he added.
The competition targeted pupils in primary schools, students in secondary and tertiary institutions, as well as youths under the age of 35, with participants engaging on themes surrounding healthcare financing, health insurance, and the future of healthcare delivery in Lagos State.
For the primary school category tagged “Little Health Champions,” pupils wrote essays on the importance of ensuring every child could access healthcare even without money.
Junior secondary school students in the “Young UHC Advocates” category examined the impact of unaffordable healthcare on young people and proposed practical solutions government could adopt to reduce hospital costs for poor families.
Senior secondary school participants under the “Future Health Leaders” category discussed the devastating consequences of expensive healthcare on vulnerable groups and families, while the “UHC Innovators” category for undergraduates and youths below 35 featured narrative advocacy videos focused on the impact of rising healthcare costs and the role of ILERA EKO in advancing universal health coverage.
LASHMA stated that entries were assessed using the internationally recognised COEMA marking framework adapted from WAEC and NECO standards, covering content, organisation, expression, mechanical accuracy, and overall presentation.
The agency said the initiative aligns with the Lagos State Government’s broader commitment to expanding healthcare access through the ILERA EKO Social Health Insurance Scheme, which provides affordable healthcare services to residents across accredited facilities in the state.
Zamba also highlighted ongoing reforms and innovations within the agency, including increased enforcement of the state’s mandatory health insurance policy, expanded stakeholder engagement across local governments, and the introduction of “ILERA EKO EasyPay,” a wallet-based payment platform designed to allow residents make gradual contributions toward health insurance premiums.
She said the platform was introduced to reduce financial barriers for low- and middle-income earners, especially those in the informal sector.
“As we continue to build a healthier Lagos, we remain committed to transparency, collaboration, innovation, and trust,” she added.
One of the winners in the undergraduate category, Olusola Eniola, a 400-level student of the Lagos State College of Nursing, described ILERA EKO as a scheme that makes healthcare affordable and accessible to residents.
“I enrolled in the ILERA EKO scheme. It’s a very good one. I want to encourage Lagos residents to enrol because it helps people who do not have enough money to access quality healthcare,” she said.
Another winner, Falabi Nusirat Adebimpe of Imoye Senior High School, expressed appreciation to LASHMA and the Lagos State Government for organising the competition.
“I feel excited and motivated with this award because success requires energy and consistency. I will continue to raise awareness about ILERA EKO among my peers and in society,” she said.
LASHMA reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining public engagement initiatives that promote health insurance awareness, encourage early health-seeking behaviour, and strengthen inclusive healthcare policies aimed at ensuring that no Lagos resident is left behind.