On its mission to spearhead a uniform health insurance cover for the entire entertainment industry, the Nigerian Entertainment Industry Health Insurance Convention has been receiving enormous acceptance and overwhelming support from several associations and guilds within the Nigerian entertainment industry. Everyone seems agreed on the need for an urgent health insurance cover for all practitioners of entertainment business in Nigeria including entertainment journalists and DJs.
Several stakeholders have lauded and spoken favourably about the event, describing it as very timely and creditable. Many affirmed that this will provide timely intervention to safeguard the life of any practitioner in the entertainment industry who falls sick at any point in time.
The Chairman of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji described it as an ingenious and timely plan as many entertainers do not take seriously their health and retirement plans. The General Manager of COSON, Mr Chinedu Chukwuji also applauded the plan and noted that the much importance should be placed on our health than driving flashy cars.
The President of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Ibinabo Fiberesima, who championed same cause for AGN last year, is more than excited about the arrangement and noted that it is a good thing for the entire entertainment industry. Top crossover actor, Jide Kosoko, a former president of Association of Nigerian Theatre-Arts Practitioners (ANTP) and one of the founders of Theatre Arts and Movie Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAM) described the programme as a commendable effort. Another top actor in the Yoruba movie industry, Antar Laniyan has described the project as one of the best innovations so far in the industry.
The Nigerian Entertainment Industry Health Insurance Cover also extends to Kannywood, the Hausa film industry which constitutes about 30% of the Nigerian film industry. Several stakeholders from Kannywood have also spoken highly of the project.
Other major stakeholders that have identified with the event include top Nigerian DJ- Jimmy Jatt; foremost artiste manager- Efe Omorogbe; founder of Storm 360-Obi Asika, A-list comedian- Ali Baba; founder of Nigeria Music Video Awards- Cally Ikpe, founder of Headies Awards- Ayo Animashaun, founder of BEAT FM- Chris Ubosi, widely respected actress-Joke Silva, highly respected industry veteran- Edi Lawani, founder of Kennis Music- Kenny Ogungbe, experienced artiste business manager-Tony Nwakalor, Top Comedian- Julius Agwu, President of Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Kelvin Luciano, top actress and leader on N17, Foluke Daramola-Salako and many others.
The convention is a major feature for the maiden edition of the Nigerian Entertainment Industry Lecture Series (NEILS) and it’s in partnership with National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Lagos State Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Medical Association. It is billed to hold on July 22nd, 2014 at the Grand Ball Room of Eko Hotel & Suites in Victoria Island – Lagos.
