AXA Mansard Health, a leading health insurance provider and member of the global AXA Group, has issued a strong call to Nigerian companies to prioritise employee wellbeing as a strategic investment critical to productivity and business growth.
The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Tope Adeniyi, made the statement at a high-level breakfast meeting with senior human resources and business leaders in Lagos, where discussions focused on the rising cost of healthcare and its impact on organisational performance.
Adeniyi stressed that companies viewing staff wellness as an expense are missing a vital growth opportunity.
“Every business leader knows the pressure of cost containment,” he said. “But our data shows that organisations treating employee wellbeing as a performance driver, not a cost centre, are the ones that thrive.”
He revealed that analysis from AXA Mansard Health’s portfolio shows a direct correlation between proactive health investments and lower claims costs per employee, warning that cutting wellness budgets to save money often backfires.
“When employees are stressed or unwell, they may be present physically but absent mentally and emotionally,” Adeniyi added.
He urged organisations to embed wellness into their leadership culture, describing it as “a smart business strategy, not corporate charity.”
The event also brought together HR heads and top executives who discussed the challenge of managing soaring healthcare costs while ensuring meaningful employee support. Participants agreed that leaders who model healthy behaviours foster loyalty and improve workplace productivity.
AXA Mansard Health used the event to showcase its wellness platform, which gives employees access to over 2,000 hospitals nationwide, telemedicine consultations, and health education and lifestyle management tools. The company said its preventive health approach helps clients lower long-term medical costs while improving overall workforce wellbeing.
Reaffirming its commitment to corporate health transformation, Adeniyi said AXA Mansard Health would continue to partner with organisations to tackle the twin issues of rising healthcare costs and employee performance through data-driven insights and practical wellness solutions.
“Taking care of our employees isn’t a sentimental act — it’s good business,” he concluded.
