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Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, earlier today, Thursday, August 28 launched the enrollment of inmates in the state’s correctional centres into the Osun Health Insurance Scheme (OHIS).
The flag-off ceremony, held at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ilesa, marked another milestone in the Adeleke administration’s expanding social protection initiatives.
Speaking at the event, the Governor reaffirmed his government’s commitment to inclusiveness, stressing that his administration does not discriminate on the basis of political affiliation, tribe, religion, or gender.
“It gives me great pleasure to unveil another laudable initiative of our administration, which is the free enrolment of inmates of Correctional Centres in Osun State into OHIS. We regard inmates in our correctional facilities as bona fide citizens of this State and of our country. Their healthcare and wellbeing must remain a matter of priority,” Adeleke declared.
The Governor recalled previous interventions under his administration, including the free enrolment of over 26,000 pensioners and persons living with disabilities into OHIS, the distribution of life-support equipment to vulnerable groups, and the eye screening of over 450,000 pupils in public schools which resulted in the provision of 43,000 corrective glasses.
Adeleke further explained how his government has managed to deliver these projects despite the state’s lean financial situation.
“Many have asked how we are achieving all these despite the State’s lean finances. The answer is simple: transparency, priority spending, judicious management of resources and increased internally generated revenue,” he said, while also appreciating stakeholders, including the Nigerian Bar Association, labour unions, clerics, and traditional rulers, for backing his administration’s stand on withheld local government allocations.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr. Adekunle Akindele, hailed Adeleke as a “trailblazer,” noting that several of Osun’s healthcare initiatives had since been emulated by the Federal Government.
“Long before the Federal Government conceived the idea of renovating Primary Healthcare Centres, Osun had done 200. Long before the Federal Government conceived the idea of enrolling pensioners, Osun had enrolled over 23,000,” Akindele said.
The Osun Controller of Corrections, Olalekan Rotimi Oluwadele, lauded the Governor’s support for the Nigerian Correctional Service, recalling that Adeleke had earlier granted amnesty to 54 inmates in December 2024, renovated operational vehicles, and sent solidarity delegations during critical incidents.
“Your excellency, your approval of the enrollment of 1,200 inmates into OHIS is a landmark achievement. This demonstrates your compassion and your commitment to ensuring that no segment of society is left behind,” he said.
The Executive Secretary of the Osun Health Insurance Agency, Dr. Rasaq Akintunde Akindele, also commended the Governor for prioritising healthcare delivery, describing OHIS’s successes as “a product of the Governor’s unwavering support.”
Dignitaries at the event included the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun; Commissioners Tola Faseru (Agriculture), Soji Ajeigbe (Government House & Protocol), Dipo Eluwole (Education), Bunmi Jenyo (Commerce & Industry); Board Chairman of OHIS, Dr. Muyiwa Olamideji; and several members of the House of Assembly.
Traditional rulers led by the Ogboni of Ipole Ijesha, Oba Oyebade Oyeleye, representing the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, also graced the occasion, further underlining the wide support for Adeleke’s people-centred governance.
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