Noor Takaful Insurance Limited, Nigeria’s leading and pioneering composite Takaful insurance provider, has officially launched its new Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), NOOR Health. This new venture is designed to offer Nigerians reliable, high-quality, and affordable healthcare in alignment with Sharia principles. Additionally, the company introduced its innovative digital platform, RAHA by NOOR, a solution aimed at improving operational efficiency and offering convenience to all participants. Both the new HMO and digital solution were unveiled during the second edition of the African Takaful and Non-Interest Finance Conference, held in Lagos on November 12 and 13, 2024.
The launch event featured a number of key figures from the Takaful and healthcare sectors. Among them were the Vice Chairman of Noor Takaful, Mr. Aminu Tukur, and the Director of Noor Takaful, Rtd. Major Abubakar Yusuf, as well as Hajiya Zainab Abdurrahman, the Chairperson of Jaiz Takaful Insurance Limited, and Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo, the Chief Medical Director of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). They were joined by Mr. Muhtar Bakare, the Chairman of Noor Takaful Insurance Limited, and Ambassador Shuaibu Ahmed, a Director of Noor Takaful, who helped launch Noor Health and the mobile app RAHA by Noor.
During the event, Ambassador Shuaib Ahmed, the founding chairman of the Noor Group, emphasized the significance of the launch, describing it as a major milestone for Noor Takaful’s broader vision of promoting a healthier and more financially inclusive Nigeria. Ahmed expressed pride in the expansion of Noor Takaful, which now includes comprehensive healthcare solutions and the digital accessibility offered by RAHA by NOOR. He highlighted the company’s mission to enhance access to healthcare for individuals and families by providing a safety net during times of need.
“The demand for reliable and affordable healthcare has never been more urgent,” said Ahmed. “We believe that NOOR Health will serve as a bridge to improve the wellbeing and security of communities throughout Nigeria.” He further explained that RAHA by NOOR is a modern and user-friendly platform designed to make the management of insurance policies easier and more efficient. The platform allows participants to access services from the convenience of their mobile devices.
RAHA, which means “convenient” in Arabic, reflects the company’s commitment to providing insurance solutions that are not only accessible but also reassuring and user-friendly. “Our journey has been one of partnership, perseverance, and purpose,” said Ahmed. “Through our collaborations with esteemed partners, we have been inspired by the trust of our participants, motivating us to redefine what Takaful can achieve in this region.”
Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo, who represented the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare at the event, expressed his excitement about the establishment of Noor Health as a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) in Nigeria. He emphasized that the launch of Noor Health supports the Nigerian government’s goal of achieving universal health coverage, noting that the involvement of private sector players like Noor Health will help reduce the gaps in the country’s National Health Insurance coverage.
In his address, Muhtar Bakare, the Chairman of Noor Takaful Insurance Limited, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to making healthcare accessible to all Nigerians, regardless of their social or economic status. “We are here to keep our promises, and as a company founded on Sharia principles, we hold ourselves accountable,” he said. Bakare stressed that Noor Health aims to make healthcare a fundamental right, not a privilege. He pointed out that the company would leverage both modern technology and time-honored values to improve healthcare delivery, ensuring that vulnerable members of society are not left behind.
Aminu Tukur, the Vice Chairman of Noor Takaful, provided further details about RAHA by NOOR, describing it as a digital solution designed to meet Nigerians’ everyday needs, including bill payments, airline tickets, airtime, and data purchases. He noted that RAHA is not just a digital service but a lifestyle solution that would soon become integral to daily life.
Noor Takaful Insurance Ltd. was established in April 2016 as the first full-fledged composite Takaful insurance operator in Nigeria with 100% indigenous Nigerian ownership. The company plays a pioneering role in unlocking the potential of Takaful insurance in Nigeria and operates under the regulations of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), subject to the provisions of the Insurance Act of 2003.
