Entertainers Applaud As Nigerian Entertainment Health Insurance Scheme Kicked Off

Seun Apara addressing guests at the launch

The continuous effort to have a well-structured health management system for the Nigerian Entertainment industry has finally berthed. On Tuesday 3 March 2015, the Nigerian Entertainment Industry Health Insurance Scheme (NEIHIS) was officially launched and unveiled to members of the entertainment and media industry at the Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja.

Mr. Seun Apara, respected entertainment journalist and coordinator of the scheme, while flagging off the business of the day, took the attendees through some of the processes and challenges the organizing team had undergone before arriving at the final stage of unveiling. 

Samo of Trace Urban and Efe Omorogbe

“Today is not the day of long speeches but a day to announce to our industry that easy and affordable healthcare is now available to them throughout the 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory. We are happy that after a year of trying to institutionalize proper and organized health care delivery system to our industry, we are glad that we have moved several mile stones beyond where we started”. 

Ara

The roll call of attendees at the media unveiling included some of the industry’s heavy weights like; Legendary DJ Jimmy Jatt, ace comedian Gbenga Adeyinka; Chief Tony Okoroji, Chairman of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON); Patrick Doyle, seasoned actor cum broadcaster; Popular actor Yemi Solade; Efe Omorogbe, CEO of Now Muzik; Cally Ikpe, Founder, Nigeria Music Video Awards; rap star Mr. Raw Nwanne; Ara, popular female talking drummer; Popular producer Puffy T;  Veteran DJ Gosporella, Talented gospel artiste, Mr. Charles Granville and many others.

DJ Gosporella and DJ Jimmy Jatt

The event, which was hosted by top comedian, Koffi also had in attendance other media practitioners including Sam Onyemelukwe, CEO, Trace TV Anglophone Africa; Kunle Rasheed, seasoned celebrity journalist and Editor, Global Excellence; Funsho Arogundade of TheNEWS/PMNews; Tosin Ajirire, Group Entertainment editor, Sun Newspapers; and Nseobong Okon, Editor with Thisday Newspapers.

Others are Publishers of Yes Weekly, High Society, Best of Nollywood and E24/7 Magazine- Azuh Arinze, Charles Nwagbara, Seun Oloketuyi and Biodun Kupolyi respectively. 

 The top executives of partner HMOs from Healthcare International and United Healthcare International were also in attendance. They include Dr. Tosin Awosika, MD/CEO, Healthcare International; Mrs. Omola Ayegbusi, Head, Corporate Planning, Healthcare; Dr. Segun Akere, GM of United Healthcare and his assistant, Dr. Ayodeji Dada.