Unizik Moves to Strengthen Healthcare Delivery as VC Inaugurates TISHIP Committee
At the Council Chamber of Nnamdi Azikiwe University on Thursday, May 21, 2026, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie, officially inaugurated the Tertiary Institutions Social Health Insurance Programme (TISHIP) Management Committee during a courtesy visit by members of the committee.
In her opening remarks, the Chairperson of the committee, Dr Jane Ezeonu, stated that the purpose of the visit was to brief the Vice-Chancellor on the progress made so far and to seek the formal inauguration of the committee.
Responding, the Vice-Chancellor commended the committee for its dedication and commitment towards improving healthcare delivery within the University community. He emphasised the importance of health insurance and preventive healthcare, stressing that “health is wealth.”
Prof. Anyaehie noted that students represent a largely healthy and insurable population with minimal casualty risks, making TISHIP a vital initiative for student welfare. He acknowledged that although the implementation of the scheme had faced challenges over the years, it remains workable when properly managed.
Drawing from his experience as former Provost of the Imo State University Teaching Hospital, the Vice-Chancellor recounted how TISHIP was successfully operationalised through strategic collaboration with private partners, transforming an abandoned health centre into one of the most sophisticated university medical centres in Nigeria. He disclosed that the facility currently serves thousands of enrollees under both national and state health insurance schemes.
Prof. Anyaehie further revealed ongoing efforts to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in the University, including the construction of health facilities at Okofia Campus and Ifite-Ogwari. According to him, the objective is not only to treat illnesses but also to promote preventive healthcare and ensure that members of the University community remain healthy.
He assured the committee of his full support and encouraged members to remain focused on their assignment, adding that his office remains open to address any challenges that may arise. He thereafter formally inaugurated the University’s TISHIP Management Committee.
In her response, Dr Ezeonu expressed appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor for his unwavering support for the Medical Centre, particularly for facilitating a mobile clinic for the institution. She disclosed that arrangements were already underway for the installation of the equipment and the immediate commencement of training for operators, with the official launch proposed for June 1, 2026.
She further noted that the committee was working towards making the emergency unit of the Medical Centre fully operational in line with global standards. According to her, the committee remains committed to improving the quality of emergency healthcare delivery within the University.
Dr Ezeonu assured the Vice-Chancellor that the inaugurated committee, constituted based on recommendations from the University’s healthcare blueprint, comprises dedicated members committed to achieving the objectives of the scheme.
Other members of the committee present during the courtesy visit included Prof. Kingsley Ubaoji; Dr Reginald A. Uzoechi; Dr Udedi Lucy; Mrs Ifeyinwa Chinwendu; Dr Clement Ojukwu; Mark Udo Smart; Dr Uzodinma Chidiebele Gabriel; Nurse Chinedum Amarachukwu; Okpala Ejikeme Ikechukwu; and Dr Onyekachi Chukwunyere.