Oloriegbe Bags AHFF, Enters Hall of Fame in Ethiopia
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Oloriegbe Bags AHFF, Enters Hall of Fame in Ethiopia
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Chairman of the Governing Council of the National Health Insurance Authority, NHIA Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, has been conferred with the Fellowship of the Africa Health Financing Forum, AHFF and inducted into its Africa Health Financing Hall of Fame.
The honours were conferred on Wednesday, October 21, and Friday, October 23, respectively, during the AHFF Special Conference held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from October 20 to 24, 2026.
Oloriegbe, a former senator representing Kwara Central, was recognised for his contributions to health financing reforms, legislative development and efforts to advance universal health coverage in Nigeria and across Africa.
According to the AHFF Governing Council and Selection Committee, the fellowship is the forum’s highest honour, reserved for public health leaders whose work has contributed significantly to expanding access to healthcare across the continent.
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A major consideration for the recognition was Oloriegbe’s sponsorship of the National Health Insurance Authority Act, 2022, during his tenure as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health in the Ninth National Assembly between 2019 and 2023.
The Act strengthened Nigeria’s health insurance framework by making health insurance mandatory and providing a legal foundation for expanding coverage and protecting citizens against the financial burden of healthcare.
The selection committee also recognised his contributions to the development of Nigeria’s National Health Act and advocacy for the implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, including the release of earmarked public funds for primary healthcare services.
Oloriegbe, a physician and health systems expert, served as Chairman of both the Senate Committee on Health and the Joint National Assembly Committee on Health during the Ninth National Assembly.
His profile presented in an AHFF video credited him with sponsoring 16 bills, four of which received presidential assent and became Acts.
Beyond legislative responsibilities, he was a founding Executive Secretary of the Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria, where he contributed to efforts aimed at strengthening the country’s health system.
He has also undertaken health systems consultancy for international development partners and government ministries across Africa, with experience covering health financing, institutional development and policy reforms.
Since March 2025, Oloriegbe has chaired the NHIA Governing Council, overseeing an institution central to Nigeria’s efforts to expand health insurance coverage and improve access to healthcare services.
The AHFF selection committee also cited his public health advocacy, including his designation as Legislative Champion for Public Health Resilience by the Nigerian Presidency and Global Health Advocacy Incubator.
The recognition comes as African countries intensify efforts to establish sustainable healthcare financing mechanisms, increase insurance coverage and reduce out-of-pocket expenditure by patients.
The AHFF Special Conference, themed “Financing the Future: Achieving Universal Access to Quality Primary Healthcare Services in Africa,” brought attention to financing and governance reforms required to ensure equitable access to quality primary healthcare across the continent.
