--Highlights gains for national and regional economic development.
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| Barrister Oluwaseun Faleye, MD/CE NSITF at the media briefing |
The Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, Barrister Oluwaseun Mayomi Faleye has submitted that Nigeria stands to gain a lot from the outcome of the International Social Security Association (ISSA) Technical Seminar 2026 coming up in Abuja later in April.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Abuja corporate headquarters of the Fund in his keynote address at a press briefing to flag off activities for the seminar, Barrister Faleye said hosting the seminar "will not only consolidates Nigeria's leadership position in the region, but will strengthen social security delivery across the region serving as a catalyst for regional economic development." He revealed that Nigeria committed to hosting the event last year in Guinea Conakry while the hosting right was formalized later in Kuala Lumpur.
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| R-L, Barrister Faleye, Mr Ayodele, and Barrister Samaila Abdu |
He stated that the event would serve to harness solution-driven opinions from stakeholders across nations and institutions as well as the private sector.
"Hosting the event for us at NSITF, is not just a commitment to regional leadership but to share best practices and policies for a robust regional economy. Because our region share similar realities. Learning from one another is therefore essential. We must blend global best practices with our local realities." He submitted.
The MD praised his management team, especially, the executive directors for their selflessness and commitment as reflected in their underground work to make the event a success. He further commended members of each technical committee working for a successful seminar.
On the timeliness of the event, Barrister Faleye said " The timing of the seminar is critical. It came at a time when social security is under immense pressure to evolve."
Faleye justified such regional seminar on the fact that Due to the region faces similar realities of domineering informal sectors, large youth population, and communication issues.
Question is not whether social security is important but how to deliver it.
The objective of the seminar is to bring together stakeholders to brainstorm on how best to deliver social security and to strengthen how social security system work in West Africa." He stated.
On the theme of the technical seminar, "Improving inclusiveness and Accessibility of Social Security Services through Effective Communication," he revealed that it was chosen in conjunction with ISSA deliberately "because the challenge we have in west Africa is not the availability of schemes but knowledge of the availability of the services."
Communication is not just a add on but central to expanding social security coverage. He expressed optimism that "if we are able to communicate with people better we will achieve better results."
"Coverage must be deepened much more than it is. Access must be simplified." He stressed.
Speaking on participation in the seminar, the NSITF MD/CE said, "For us, social security is a multi-stakeholders engagement. We have taken pain to ensure all critical stakeholders must come together."
He revealed that other local social security institutions including, PENCOM, NHIS and relevant government agencies and their regional counterparts would participate in the seminar.
"We also invited development partners such as UNESCO, to share their knowledge." He revealed.
Solicited media cooperation in disseminating information on social security services in Nigeria.
Speaking further on the goals of the seminar, Faleye said, " The goal is to strengthen institutional cooperation across the region. We compare notes and share ideas, to highlight communication strategies that will work in real life context, and most importantly, to move from coverage in theory to coverage in practice. That's the mandate that the president has given us under the Renewed Hope Agenda."
Nigeria re-entered the international social security space which we excited before, in the past 18 months of the Faleye-led management executive.
Stressing the importance of proper communication strategies for achieving total security coverage, he said social security must not just remain a system people hear about but understand and trust.
The MD expressed the Fund's preparedness "to hold and facilitate solution-driven talks around issues mentioned as he welcome all participants.
In response to questions from members of the press on the challenge of an 80% informal economy sector to total social security coverage, Barrister Faleye revealed that there have been "a better appreciation of the ECS by informal sector player since we came in." He further pinned the success on effective communication.
In attendance at the press briefing were the Executive Director Finance and Investment, Mr. Ayodele, Executive Director Administration, Barrister Samaila Abdu, General Managers, including the General Manager and Technical Assistant, MD/CE Office, Dr. Dayo Alao, head of Corporate Affairs Department, Mrs Bede, and members of the press.
The ISSA Technical Seminar 2026 will hold at the Abuja Continental Hotel, (formerly Abuja Sheraton Hotel), from Tuesday 21st to Wednesday 22nd April, 2026.
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