Nigeria is ready to collaborate with partners working to entrench social protection initiatives.

The Managing Director of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Oluwaseun Faleye, has said.

This, as Nigeria braces up for the hosting of the 2026 International Social Security Association (ISSA) West Africa Technical Seminar.

Faleye stated that Nigeria is also ready to facilitate meaningful, solution-driven discussions as part of broader efforts to strengthen social protection systems across West Africa.

Speaking at the seminar, the NSITF boss explained that the gathering, under the theme ‘Improving Inclusiveness and Accessibility of Social Security Services through Effective Communication’, is part of a broader effort to strengthen social protection systems across West Africa.

Faleye, who explained that Nigeria has made significant progress in strengthening its social security architecture, particularly through the Employees’ Compensation Scheme and expanded workplace injury coverage, stressed the need to deepen coverage, simplify access and improve engagement with employers and workers.

The Managing Director added, “We look forward to welcoming stakeholders from across the region to Abuja. What we begin in Abuja is not just a conversation; it is a commitment to strengthening protection for millions of workers across West Africa.

“This Seminar comes at a time when social protection systems globally, and particularly in West Africa, are under pressure to evolve. Across our region, millions of workers, especially in the informal sector, remain outside formal social security coverage”.

He argued that the question is no longer whether social security is important, but rather how effectively nations deliver it.

“Nigeria, through NSITF, is honoured to host the ISSA West Africa Technical Seminar 2026. The seminar will bring together: social security institutions, policymakers, employers and workers’ representatives. The objective is simple but critical: to strengthen how social security systems work in practice, not just in policy”, he stated.

He further stressed that in many cases, the challenge is not the absence of schemes, but limited awareness, complex processes and low trust in institutions.

He declared that effective communication is not an add-on but central to expanding coverage and building confidence.

He stressed that hosting the seminar reflects Nigeria’s commitment to continuous improvement and regional leadership, as “West Africa shares common structural realities: Large informal economies, young and mobile populations, evolving labour markets. This makes it essential to learn from one another and adapt solutions to our realities, not copy models blindly.”

The Managing Director, who explained that strengthening social security is a shared responsibility, said that development partners also play a key role in supporting innovation and capacity-building.

He listed organisations and institutions that will participate in the conference, including the Federal Ministry of Labour, PENCOM, NECA, MAN, NLC, TUC, UNESCO, and the ILO, among others.

He urged governments to provide enabling policies, institutions to deliver efficiently, and employers to comply and engage with workers who are informed and empowered.

On the expected outcomes of the conference, the managing director said the conference is expected to generate practical insights for improving service delivery, strengthen institutional collaboration across the region and highlight communication strategies that work in real contexts, stating that “Ultimately, the goal is to move from coverage in theory to coverage in reality”.

The ISSS Technical Seminar 2026 will be held in Abuja between 22nd and 23rd April.