AXA Mansard Health, Nigeria’s leading health insurance company and member of the AXA Group, has called on organisations to treat employee wellbeing as a strategic investment that drives productivity and business growth, rather than a financial burden.
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The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Tope Adeniyi, made the call during a breakfast meeting with senior human resources (HR) and business leaders in Lagos, where discussions centred on the escalating cost of healthcare and its impact on workforce wellbeing.
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Adeniyi noted that while rising operational costs remain a reality for many organisations, prioritising employee wellness yields measurable returns in performance and cost management.
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“Every business leader knows the pressure of cost containment,” he said. “But we have learned, from more than a decade of serving thousands of employees across Nigeria’s most demanding sectors, that companies which treat wellbeing as a performance driver not a cost centre are the ones that thrive.”
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He added that data from AXA Mansard Health’s portfolio show a clear link between proactive investment in employee wellbeing and reduced claims costs per employee. “Cutting health or wellness budgets to ‘save’ money often backfires,” he said. “When employees are stressed or unwell, they may show up physically but be mentally and emotionally absent.”
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Adeniyi emphasised that supporting staff health should be viewed as sound business strategy, not corporate social responsibility. “Taking care of our employees is not a sentimental choice it’s good business,” he affirmed.
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Other participants at the session, comprising HR heads and business executives, discussed the challenges of balancing rising healthcare expenses with meaningful employee support. They also stressed the importance of embedding wellbeing into leadership culture, noting that executives who model healthy practices foster loyalty and enhance productivity
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AXA Mansard Health showcased its wellness platform, which provides employees access to over 2,000 hospitals nationwide, telemedicine consultations, health education programmes, and lifestyle management tools. By focusing on preventive care and real-time health management, the insurer said it helps organisations reduce costs while improving health outcomes.
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Reaffirming its commitment to holistic employee wellbeing, the company pledged continued partnership with employers to address the dual challenge of rising healthcare costs and workforce performance. Adeniyi concluded that AXA Mansard Health remains dedicated to equipping businesses with data-driven insights and practical tools to sustain a healthy, productive workforce.