National Open University Implements Comprehensive Health Insurance for Students

The Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Olufemi Peters, has officially launched the Tertiary Institution Social Health Insurance Programme (TISHIP), a landmark initiative designed to provide standardized healthcare access for the university's sprawling student population.

The launch ceremony, held on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at the University’s Senate Building in Jabi, Abuja, marks the formal commencement of a health scheme tailored to NOUN’s unique distributed learning model.

Addressing the gathering, Prof. Peters noted that while the implementation of TISHIP was long overdue, the delay was necessary to ensure the platform met the specific needs of NOUN students and complied with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) standards.

"It is high time we put the health and safety of our students at our heart," Prof. Peters stated. "The university is operating on a very clear and open policy, and the selection of the Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) was done with total transparency."

Recognizing NOUN’s nationwide presence, the university has appointed multiple HMOs to provide coverage across all six geo-political zones. This decentralized approach ensures that students can access healthcare services regardless of their location in Nigeria.

Key features of the new program include:

Specialized Identification: Students will be issued a dedicated TISHIP ID card, separate from their standard student ID, to facilitate access to healthcare providers.

Regulated Fee Structure: The Vice-Chancellor assured students that the university would not charge above the federally mandated rates for the scheme.

Integration with University Clinics: The program officially integrates with the newly established university clinics to provide a primary point of care.

Prof. Peters urged all students to complete their registration with their respective zonal HMOs immediately. "Without the ID card, you cannot have access to services," he cautioned, emphasizing that since the fee is part of the academic requirements, students must ensure they are captured in the system to benefit from the investment.

For further details on registration procedures and zonal HMO assignments, students are encouraged to visit the official NOUN News Portal.