By Rosemary Iwunze

AXA Mansard Insurance Plc has been honoured with the Community Hero Award by the Blood Transfusion Centre of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in recognition of its contribution to strengthening voluntary blood donation and supporting efforts to improve access to life-saving blood for patients.

The recognition comes amid growing calls for increased voluntary blood donation to address recurring shortages in healthcare facilities across Nigeria, where hospitals continue to rely heavily on voluntary donors to meet transfusion needs.

According to the insurer, the award followed its sustained employee-led blood donation drives organised in partnership with the Blood Transfusion Centre, LUTH, as part of its corporate sustainability and community health initiatives.

Over the past two years, employees of the company have donated more than 200 pints of blood to support patients requiring life-saving transfusions, with participation drawn from across its operations.
The company said the initiative demonstrates its commitment to improving community wellbeing while fostering a culture of volunteerism among employees.

Chief Marketing Officer of AXA Mansard Plc, Adebola Surakat, described the recognition as an affirmation of the company’s purpose of advancing human progress through initiatives that extend beyond its core insurance business.

“At AXA Mansard, our purpose is to act for human progress by protecting what matters. We believe protection should be inclusive and extend beyond insurance to improving the wellbeing and resilience of the communities we serve,” she said.

According to Surakat, the award reflects not only the organisation’s commitment to supporting healthcare interventions but also the willingness of its employees to contribute to initiatives that create lasting social impact.

She noted that the company would continue to encourage employee volunteerism and invest in programmes that promote healthier and more resilient communities.

The Community Hero Award is presented to organisations that have demonstrated commitment to promoting blood donation awareness, encouraging voluntary participation and supporting the availability of safe and sustainable blood supplies for healthcare delivery.

Healthcare experts have consistently identified inadequate voluntary blood donation as one of the major challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare system, with stakeholders urging greater private sector participation in initiatives that strengthen national blood reserves and improve emergency medical response.

By Rosemary Iwunze

PRIVATE healthcare providers are expanding investments in specialist medical services as rising cases of chronic diseases, an ageing population and increasing demand for quality healthcare continue to reshape Nigeria’s healthcare landscape.

The latest move came from OneHealth by AXA, which has introduced Geriatric and Optometry clinics at its Victoria Island Medical Centre in Lagos, widening access to specialised care and reinforcing the growing role of private healthcare providers in bridging critical service gaps.

Industry stakeholders have increasingly stressed the need for greater investment in specialist healthcare as Nigeria grapples with a rising burden of non-communicable diseases, while eye disorders and age-related illnesses continue to place pressure on the country’s healthcare system.

Speaking on the expansion, Chief Business Officer of OneHealth by AXA, Wahen Egbe, said the new clinics were established in response to the evolving healthcare needs of Nigerians and the increasing demand for specialised medical services.

“The addition of these clinics reflects the growing demand for specialised medical services that address the evolving health needs of people at different stages of life,” she said.

Egbe explained that the company’s decision to establish a dedicated Geriatric Clinic followed growing concerns over the healthcare needs of older adults as Nigeria records increasing cases of chronic and age-related illnesses.

According to her, the clinic offers comprehensive assessment, prevention, diagnosis and long-term management of conditions commonly associated with ageing, including hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, cognitive decline, mobility disorders and other chronic illnesses requiring coordinated multidisciplinary care.

She added that beyond treatment, the clinic is designed to promote healthy ageing by helping senior citizens maintain functional independence and improve their quality of life through personalised care plans.

The Geriatric Clinic operates every Tuesday from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., providing specialist consultations for elderly patients and their families.

Also speaking, Country Manager of OneHealth by AXA, Dr. Jadesola Idowu, said the introduction of the Optometry Clinic was aimed at improving access to preventive eye care and addressing the growing incidence of undiagnosed vision problems.

She noted that many eye conditions develop gradually without noticeable symptoms until significant vision loss has occurred, making routine eye examinations essential for early diagnosis and treatment.
“Our Optometry Clinic offers comprehensive eye examinations, vision screening, refraction services, prescription of corrective lenses, eye health assessments and early detection of common eye diseases affecting children, adults and older persons,” she said.

Idowu added that the clinic also provides preventive eye care counselling, occupational vision assessments, prescription updates and referrals for advanced ophthalmic treatment where necessary.
The Optometry Clinic operates from Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

The expansion marks another step in OneHealth by AXA’s strategy to strengthen integrated healthcare delivery by providing multiple specialist services within a single medical facility.

The company, a subsidiary of the AXA Group, currently offers specialist services spanning cardiology, endocrinology, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, orthopaedics, physiotherapy, ear, nose and throat (ENT), urology and endoscopy, while also operating 24-hour ambulance and radiology services to improve emergency response and continuity of care.

Healthcare analysts have maintained that sustained private sector investment in specialist care, alongside stronger public-private collaboration, will be critical to improving access to quality healthcare, reducing pressure on public hospitals and enhancing health outcomes as demand for specialised medical services continues to rise across the country.

By Peter Egwuatu

The Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) has described FTSE Russell’s decision to defer Nigeria’s planned reclassification to Frontier Market status as a temporary review process rather than a reversal of the country’s capital market reforms, stressing that Nigeria’s newly adopted T+1 settlement cycle remains a landmark achievement capable of strengthening investor confidence and market efficiency.

The Institute said the postponement announced by FTSE Russell on June 30, 2026, followed the global index provider’s decision to further assess the practical implications of Nigeria’s migration from a T+2 to a T+1 securities settlement cycle for international institutional investors.

According to CIS, Nigeria’s transition to the T+1 settlement framework on June 1, 2026, represents one of the most significant reforms in the country’s capital market history, making Nigeria the first capital market in Africa to implement the shortened settlement cycle.

The Institute noted that the reform aligns Nigeria with major global markets that have adopted faster settlement systems to improve operational efficiency, reduce settlement risk and enhance liquidity.

“The introduction of T+1 settlement demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to international best practices and strengthens the country’s competitiveness within the global investment community,” the Institute stated.

CIS explained that FTSE Russell’s concerns centre on whether the shortened settlement period could, in practice, create a de facto  prefunded  market for foreign institutional investors operating across multiple jurisdictions and time zones.

However, the Institute maintained that Nigeria’s migration to T+1 has not altered the country’s Delivery versus Payment (DvP) settlement model, under which securities and cash are exchanged simultaneously at settlement.

“The implementation of T+1 does not require foreign portfolio investors to  prefund  their transactions. The market continues to operate under internationally recognised Delivery versus Payment principles, with the only change being the reduction of the settlement period from two business days to one.

“We recognise the operational challenges arising from the shortened settlement cycle. Accordingly, sustained engagement and constructive collaboration with all stakeholders will be crucial to refining the reforms, addressing emerging issues, and ensuring that no category of investor is disadvantaged or unintentionally excluded from participating in the Nigerian capital market,”  CIS stated.