By Osun, Nigeria – Ademola Adeleke, the Governor of Osun State, flagged off the enrolment of inmates into the Osun Health Insurance Scheme (OHIS) on Thursday, August 28, at the Ilesa Medium Correctional Centre. This was announced in a release signed by Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Spokesperson to the Governor. At the event, Governor Adeleke described inmates at correctional facilities as bona fide citizens of Osun State and, by extension, Nigeria. He further stated that his administration does not discriminate on any basis—whether political affiliation, tribe, religion, or gender.
Governor Adeleke said, “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 the Osun Health Insurance Scheme. We regard inmates in our correctional facilities as bona fide citizens of this State and of our country. Their healthcare and general wellbeing must remain a matter of priority. As you must have observed, our administration does not discriminate on any basis—whether political affiliation, tribe, religion, or gender—in extending the dividends of democracy to all citizens and residents of Osun State.”
Governor Adeleke noted that in the past, his administration approved the free enrolment of over 26,000 pensioners into the Osun Health Insurance Scheme. He mentioned that this pace-setting gesture had been emulated by many states and, more recently, by the Federal Government.
He also stated that they approved the free enrolment of persons living with disabilities into OHIS. Beyond enrolment, he highlighted that they provided life support equipment such as motorised wheelchairs, crutches, walking sticks, visual aids, hearing aids, and more to make life more comfortable for these individuals.
Additionally, Governor Adeleke reported that they ordered eye screening for over 450,000 pupils in public primary and secondary schools to enhance academic performance. He emphasised that out of these pupils, 43,000 students who required corrective glasses were provided them free of charge. Those needing medication received it at no cost, and those requiring surgeries also benefited without any charges. He added that this intervention not only brought significant financial relief to parents and guardians but also secured a brighter future for these leaders of tomorrow.
“To further motivate our healthcare providers, we have ensured prompt payment of salaries and allowances, honoured training entitlements, and invested in human capacity development within the health sector. Today, we extend our healthcare coverage to inmates of correctional centres as a demonstration of our concern for the health and wellbeing of every segment of our society.”
Governor Adeleke stated that many had asked how he was achieving all this despite the State’s lean financial situation, especially in the last seven months. He explained that the answer was simple; aside from being strong believers in God, they embraced transparency and priority spending in the management of state funds. He noted that they had raised their internally generated revenue and judiciously managed their special project account.
He also requested to appreciate the Nigerian Bar Association, royal fathers, various labour unions, clerics, and different strata of society for their sustained appeal to the Federal Government and the Presidency for the release of Osun local government withheld allocations. He emphasised that the huge public support in favour of the Osun State government strengthened their faith in the legality and morality of their position on the local government leadership question.
In addition, in his speech, the Controller of Corrections for Osun Command, Olalekan Rotimi Oluwadele, noted that the Governor’s presence at the event was a testament to his commitment to the welfare of inmates. He stated that upon assuming duty as the State Controller in September 2024, he visited critical stakeholders in the state, including the Executive Secretary of the Osun Health Insurance Agency, Dr. Rasaq Akindele. He emphasised that their discussions primarily focused on enrolling inmates, and Dr. Akindele promised to speak with the Governor. As a responsive Governor, he relayed back to them that he had graciously approved the enrolment of 1,200 inmates into OHIS, which they were witnessing that day.
“We extend our heartfelt appreciation to you, Mr. Governor, for your unwavering support of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Osun State Command. Your gesture of granting amnesty to 54 inmates in December 2024 was a beacon of hope and a demonstration of your compassion. We also thank you for renovating our operational vehicles and sending a state government delegation for a solidarity visit following the escape of seven inmates on May 20, 2025,” he said.
On behalf of Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche MFR, mni, the Controller General of Corrections for the Nigerian Correctional Service, he welcomed the Governor and members of his cabinet to the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Ilesa. He noted that their visit provided reassurance of the administration’s commitment to the well-being of all citizens, including those in their care.
