The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Mr. Oluwaseun Faleye, has reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to restoring hope, dignity, and confidence among Nigerian workers who suffer injuries in the course of their duties.
Faleye made this known in Abuja during the presentation of prosthetic limbs to 10 beneficiaries under the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS), describing the initiative as a critical support system for workers facing the physical and emotional aftermath of workplace accidents.
Represented by the General Manager, Claims and Compensation, Mrs. Nkiru Ogunnike, he noted that the scheme continues to improve the lives of injured workers by facilitating their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
According to Faleye, the ECS extends beyond statutory compensation, reflecting a broader humanitarian commitment to preserving the dignity and wellbeing of workers affected by occupational hazards.
“Workplace accidents often result not only in physical injuries but also emotional trauma and uncertainty about the future. For many workers, a single incident can permanently alter the course of their lives,” he stated.
He emphasised that the NSITF’s intervention provides beneficiaries with the opportunity to rebuild their lives, regain independence, and re-engage with society with renewed confidence.
Highlighting the impact of the scheme, Faleye cited the cases of two beneficiaries—Daniel Etim, an employee of the University of Uyo Printing Press, and Festus Okpara of Tower Aluminium Laos.
Etim lost his arm in May 2024 following an industrial accident that led to amputation. Through the ECS, the NSITF covered his medical expenses and provided a prosthetic arm to aid his rehabilitation.
Similarly, Okpara, who lost his hand in a workplace incident in 2015, received a silicone prosthetic hand from the Fund. Faleye noted that beyond physical recovery, the intervention significantly improved Okpara’s psychological wellbeing and social confidence.
Expressing gratitude, Okpara said the prosthetic device had eased the emotional burden of his condition and improved his ability to interact confidently in public.
Faleye reiterated that such interventions underscore the NSITF’s role as a vital social protection institution, ensuring that workers affected by injuries, disabilities, occupational diseases, or death are adequately supported.
He further observed that workplace injuries often leave lasting psychological effects, which are frequently overlooked, stressing that the Fund’s initiatives aim to address both physical and emotional recovery.
The 10 beneficiaries are part of a larger group of 78 injured workers recently fitted with prosthetic limbs under the NSITF’s ongoing rehabilitation and reintegration programme.
