KEMI OMONIYI
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Maureen Allagoa, has said the agency is in pole position to lead the actualisation of the President’s 8-Point Agenda on health, education and social investment, as well as in agriculture.
Speaking in Abuja at a workshop on the Role of the NSITF and the Delivery Task Team in Actualising the Government Eight Priority Areas under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Allagoa said the NSITF has launched an initiative to improve the lives of Nigerians through an enhanced human and capital development.
“The NSITF as the leading Social Security Institution in Africa with over 60 years’ experience in the social security sector has a huge role and responsibility in the actualisation of these key priority areas, particularly the key priority area No. 6 that speaks to Social investments to improve the lives of Nigerians and enhance human and capital development.
“We have commenced a strategic drive into the informal sector of the economy with a view to providing social security services for the employees through our close collaboration with Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) using their various associations and bodies.
“This strategy extends even to associations and umbrella bodies of small and medium scale enterprises in the Agricultural sector with a view to improving productivity and boosting food production which will invariably enhance food security.
“This aligns with the key priority area no. 3, which speaks to boosting agriculture and achieving food security.” Allagoa said.
She noted that the NSITF with 57 branches and 12 Regional offices across the nation, and over 5,000 staff strength of diverse academic backgrounds has a strong institutional memory and database to provide leadership in data generation, storage and sharing same with relevant agencies towards success in the 8 key priority areas of the Tinubu Administration.
In his remarks, the NSITF’s Executive Director of Administration, Prof. Gabriel Okenwa emphasized the crucial importance of policy coordination for the success of any organisation.
He said, “Policy coordination is vital for the success of any organization. It ensures that our activities are aligned with the overarching vision, maximizing our impact and effectiveness.” He further encouraged the heads of various departments within the NSITF to ensure effective implementation of gains from the training, underscoring the significance of putting the acquired knowledge into practice.
While the Executive Director, Operations, Mr. Modu Gana conveyed sincere gratitude to the trainers from the President’s Office for their exceptional work. He expressed optimism that the tasks ahead were achievable through collaborative efforts and continued support.
In his contribution, Mr. Adedeji Adegoke, the Executive Director of Finance and Investment, pledged the Fund’s continued support for the initiatives highlighted by the Central Delivery Coordination Unit. He expressed confidence in the collaborative efforts to drive the actualization of the government’s priorities.
The Keynote address by the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination and the Head of Central Delivery Coordination Unit(CDCU) , Hajia Hadiza Bala was read by Esege Ebei Esege who is the Coordinator of the CDCU while a facilitator from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation(OSGF) Mrs. Chioma Nzewi delivered a paper on Priority 6 of the 8 Point Agenda on Education, 6 Social Investment during the training.
