Akwa Ibom Polytechnic Rector Affirms Full Rollout of Student Health Insurance Scheme

The Rector of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, Dr Akanimo Jonah, has affirmed the institution’s commitment to the effective and seamless implementation of the Tertiary Institution Social Health Insurance Programme under the Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Scheme, describing the initiative as a strategic pillar for student welfare and academic stability.

Dr Jonah gave the assurance while receiving the AKSHIA enrollment and sensitisation team during an official visit to the Polytechnic on Monday, 20 January 2026. He stated that contemporary tertiary education management now recognises student health as a core determinant of learning outcomes, institutional efficiency and graduate quality.

According to him, the Polytechnic’s mandate to produce technically competent, innovative and socially responsible graduates depends largely on the physical and mental wellbeing of its students, noting that sustained academic engagement is impossible in the absence of accessible and reliable healthcare.

He explained that even the most robust academic structures could be undermined if students are burdened by untreated health challenges, adding that the health insurance scheme directly supports the institution’s academic mission by ensuring continuity in learning and reducing avoidable disruptions.

Dr Jonah assured the AKSHIA team of Management’s readiness to integrate the scheme fully into the Polytechnic’s student support framework, with a focus on proper enrollment processes, accurate documentation and efficient service delivery in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

Speaking at the event, the Dean of Students Affairs, Dr Unyime Udoudo, noted that access to affordable healthcare has a direct impact on lecture attendance, academic concentration and participation in practical and assessment activities. He observed that many academic setbacks experienced by students are linked to health issues that could have been effectively managed through early intervention under a structured insurance scheme.

He described the programme as a stabilising factor within the academic system, urging students to treat enrollment with the same level of seriousness as course registration and examinations.

The AKSHIA team, led by Dr Michael Aaron alongside Mr Alex Edo, presented an overview of the scheme, explaining that it prioritises preventive healthcare, early diagnosis and timely access to quality treatment to minimise prolonged academic disruption. They outlined the range of services covered, including outpatient care, basic laboratory services, maternal and child health services for eligible dependants and referrals to accredited healthcare facilities.

They emphasised that the scheme is designed to ease the financial burden of medical expenses on students and their families, thereby enabling students to focus more effectively on their academic pursuits.

The Polytechnic’s AKSHIA Desk Officer, Mr Ekerette Esu, described the visit as a significant intervention in student welfare and academic planning. He assured the team of the institution’s commitment to sustained sensitisation, monitoring and guidance to ensure students understand both the enrollment process and how to access healthcare services when required.

He added that proper participation in the scheme would also provide reliable data to support improved student welfare policies and informed institutional decision making.

The Students Union Government President, Comrade Wisdom Udoimuk, commended the initiative, describing it as a welfare policy that strengthens the academic environment by reducing health related interruptions to learning. He encouraged students to enroll promptly and to make responsible use of the services provided under the scheme.

The sensitisation exercise featured interactive sessions during which students sought clarifications on coverage, hospital access and emergency care, with detailed responses provided by the AKSHIA team.

The event was attended by the Rector, the Acting Registrar Mr Godswill Udofah, the Polytechnic Librarian Dr Mercy Ukpanah, the Dean of Students Affairs, student union executives, student parliamentarians, executives of NIDSUG and members of the student body.