The Ondo State Contributory Health Commission (ODCHC) has entered into a strategic partnership with Owena Press Limited to deepen public awareness and drive enrollment into the state’s health insurance scheme.
Director General of the Commission, Dr. Abiodun Oyeneyin, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Owena Press Limited, Mr. Kayode Fasua, publishers of the Hope newspaper titles.
Oyeneyin expressed gratitude to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for his commitment to attracting and retaining health workers in the state, describing the move as critical to sustaining affordable healthcare delivery.
He noted that Ondo currently ranks 12th nationally in health insurance coverage despite being 18th in population size, and highlighted several schemes introduced by the Commission.
“Our goal is to have at least one million enrollees by 2027,” the DG said, stressing the importance of publicity in reaching Ondo’s nearly six million residents. “Owena Press occupies a strategic position in helping us achieve this.”
In his remarks, Mr. Fasua commended Governor Aiyedatiwa and praised the Commission’s success in extending affordable healthcare to the informal sector. He assured that the newspaper would give robust publicity to the Commission’s activities.
“Owena Press has consistently covered the health sector with three dedicated correspondents and special columns. We are ready to give you wider visibility, even at low cost. We can also create a dedicated column to sensitize the public and place compelling stories on our front page,” Fasua said.
He stressed the need for sustained sensitization, noting that many residents wrongly associate health insurance with sickness or death and that the media must help change that perception.
Fasua added that Owena Press had expanded its reach with the introduction of Weekend Hope in November 2024 — a daily online edition with over 50,000 morning readers — and Hope Magazine, a monthly publication promoting entrepreneurship, governance, and development.
