The Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Olufemi Peters, has launched the Tertiary Institution Social Health Insurance Programme (TISHIP) platform for students of the university, describing it as a step toward improving student health.
The launch took place on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at the university’s Senate Building in Jabi, Abuja.
Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor said the Tertiary Institution Social Health Insurance Programme was long overdue, explaining that the timing reflected the special nature of NOUN.
“It has taken us this long to be able to convince ourselves that, firstly, we need to engage the statutory requirements as enacted according to the Act of the National Assembly and also decided that it is high time we put the health and safety of our students in our heart and that’s the reason why we decided to go ahead with the implementation of this platform,” Peters said.
He stated that the university followed a transparent process in the selection of Health Maintenance Organizations.
“The university is operating on a very clear and open policy and the selection of the Health Maintenance Organization was done as transparent as possible,” he said.
Peters explained that the nationwide spread of NOUN students made it necessary to work with more than one HMO.
“Because of the widespread of our coverage in the country we cannot restrict the HMO to one organisation alone. We have to find geo-political coverage for our HMOs and with the new university clinic setup, the TISHIP has officially commenced,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor assured students that the university would not charge them above the approved amount.
“For the students, I want to assure you that NOUN is not going to charge you above what is required of us to charge. This health programme is for the good of the students,” he said.
He announced that every student would be issued a separate identity card.
“This ID card will be given to you by the HMOs through which you will use to have access to the healthcare providers. Without the ID card you cannot have access to their services and also the registration is very important because you paid for it,” Peters said.
He urged students to register with the HMOs available within their six geo-political zones.
The Vice-Chancellor appreciated the Governing Council of the National Open University of Nigeria, led by Malam Isa Yuguda.
In his remarks, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Shehu Usman Adamu, said the innovation began during a sensitisation meeting organised by the Vice-Chancellor to explain how the TISHIP would operate.
The Director of Procurement, Ms. Dinah Abbas, issued approval letters to the various HMOs.
Representatives of the HMOs appreciated the recognition and promised effective service delivery, while the Director of Counselling and Career Development, Dr. Sefinat Omuya, gave the vote of thanks.
