The Nigerian Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF), a non-profit organisation in Lagos, has announced the launch of the Ignite Campaign, an initiative aimed at training and mobilising one million young Nigerians as healthcare advocates.
According to a statement, the campaign which commenced on July 15, 2024, will run for six months, involving the initial training of 3,000 youths.
“The campaign launch marked the beginning of the fund’s ambitious journey to empower one million youths for healthcare advocacy by 2029,” the statement said.
Fejiro Nwoko, managing director/CEO of the NSSF said the Ignite Campaign represents a pivotal step in the strategy to create a healthier Nigeria.
“By engaging and training 3,000 young Nigerians, we are addressing the immediate need for healthcare advocacy and setting the stage for long-term change,” she said.
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She added that the goal is to empower the youth, fortify healthcare systems, and ensure every Nigerian has access to quality healthcare.
She acknowledged that NSSF’s experience in protecting the most vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic had illuminated the significant gaps in Nigeria’s public healthcare systems.
“We believe Nigerians deserve better and NSSF has decided to give young Nigerians a platform to participate in creating the Nigerian healthcare system of our dreams through advocacy,” Nwoko said.
She mentioned that after the success of previous Wenaija events, NSSF transformed into a community for young health advocates to receive peer mentorship and bridge the gap between awareness and action.
Nwoko noted that those efforts target youth apathy in healthcare and aim to tackle sectoral challenges and the fund equips young advocates to bridge the gap between awareness and action.
“NSSF’s new strategy empowers young advocates to drive change in their communities. The Ignite Campaign aims to spark a movement of young Nigerians dedicated to improving healthcare access and outcomes,” she added.
