The International Labour Organisation (ILO), in partnership with the Ondo State Government and the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria, has launched a programme to promote health insurance enrolment among cocoa farmers, informal workers, and vulnerable households at risk of child labour.
Funded by the United States Department of Labour under the ILO’s Global Accelerator Lab (GALAB) project, the initiative spans 20 rural communities in Ondo State.
According to the ILO, the campaign directly engaged 839 individuals in these communities, creating awareness of the benefits of health insurance schemes.
As Nigeria’s largest cocoa-producing state, Ondo State faces challenges including poverty, limited healthcare access, and child labour.
The Ondo State Contributory Health Scheme—comprising the “Orange Health Insurance Scheme” for informal workers and the “Basic Healthcare Provision Fund Programme” for vulnerable households—aims to address these issues by improving community well-being.
Over four days, the ILO collaborated with trade unions, community-based organisations, and the Ondo State Contributory Health Commission to deliver targeted messages. Community leaders and healthcare officials informed thousands of residents about enrolment procedures and healthcare benefits.
Vanessa Phala, Director of the ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, said, “Ensuring access to health insurance for vulnerable communities is a significant step towards eliminating child labour and improving livelihoods. This campaign exemplifies how collaboration between governments, workers’ representatives, and organisations like the ILO can foster real change.”
The programme’s expected outcomes include increased health insurance awareness, enhanced stakeholder collaboration, and improved cooperative society capacities. These efforts aim to reduce families’ reliance on child labour by improving cocoa farmers’ livelihoods.
A beneficiary, Chief Akinola Akinwole, remarked, “I didn’t know my family could benefit from health insurance. Through this programme, I have learnt how to enrol and protect my children’s future. This knowledge will also help me focus on improving my farm without worrying about unexpected medical costs.”
However, the GALAB project is fostering safer, healthier, and more productive communities by addressing systemic challenges and equipping families with social protection tools.