By Mercy Omoike

The Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF), a non-governmental health organisation, has sought media partnership with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to promote its health intervention programmes.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NSSF, Dr Fejiro Chinye-Nwoko, said this during a courtesy visit to NAN Lagos Office on Wednesday.

Chinye-Nwoko, who commended NAN’s sterling reportage of news and pressing issues over the years, called for collaboration with the agency.

“It is very important work NAN is doing here, just to say that, maybe we do not get to sing your praises a lot, but without you people, we would not even know what is happening beyond our immediate environment, we will not have a clue.

“So, NAN’s information on every development issue, be it health, or the grassroots is very important, and how you convey that news with passion anytime, so, we are grateful to the agency for having us here today and thank you for allowing us to see you in your home and your elements.

“We are here to introduce NSSF, we are an indigenous NGO, we are set up by two organisations, which is the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority and Global Citizens, an international poverty NGO.

“NSSF was created to be locally accepted and cater to the needs of Nigerians,” she said.

Chinye-Nwoko also reiterated the goals of NSSF and the need for the collaboration.

“The value of having an indigenous NGO is that you are not chasing global agenda. You are chasing your own agenda. What is important to Nigeria, and that is why we are here.

“We are here because what is important to Nigeria may not be important to international NGOs.

“We are concerned about what our people are suffering. How can they access the best health care? How are we creating wealth at home?

“We are here to deal with issues that may be overlooked by the global community, either because they have not gathered funding for it, because they work in response to or it is not a burning issue for the global community.

“For the NSSF, irrespective of funds, if there is a burning issue we are there to address them. We started off with the burning issue of COVID 19 vaccinations even amidst the myths and unbelief around it.

“We are engaged in training of healthcare workers, training of the youth, advocating, spreading the word, and we felt that who else to partner with but to partner with NAN to take our good work to the public, to talk about what we are doing,” Chinye-Nwoko said.

On his part, the Head of NAN Lagos Operations, Mr Adeleye Ajayi, reiterated the agency’s commitment to timely and accurate reports.

Ajayi said that NAN is widespread across the 36 states of the country with offices in the United Kingdom, the United States and South Africa.

“When you speak to NAN, you have spoken to all because of the wide coverage of the agency across beats and different locations.

“NAN has close to 1,000 reporters and editors nationwide who are brilliant, vibrant and agile. And we have one of the most experienced editors with close to two, three decades of editorial experience.

“We do our stories with speed and accuracy, our stories are factual, timely and are interesting.

“We do not just come out with stories, we think deep before we push out our stories, and do not forget that we are the purveyors of news, we provide service to all media houses, television stations, radio and print.

“This shows the commitment that NAN reporters and editors show towards their reportage. We cover news across the nooks and crannies of the country.

“Like sniffer dogs, NAN has the best nose for news, with NAN you can be confident that your stories will go far and wide,” Ajayi said.

NAN reports that the NSSF, established in 2020, is committed to empowering one million young Nigerians to become healthcare advocates by 2029.

NSSF has a long-term goal to establish a more equitable healthcare system in Nigeria, where all communities will have access to quality healthcare services. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma