The Director General of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT), Mohamed Fuaad Daboh, has been elected Vice Chairman of the Africa Social Security Association (ASSA) at the Association’s 30th Governing Council Meeting held on 30 January 2026 at the Serena Hotel in Kigali, Rwanda.
Mohamed Fuaad Daboh was elected unopposed, reflecting strong confidence in his leadership among ASSA member institutions. In his acceptance speech, he expressed gratitude for the honour and pledged to work diligently to advance social security systems at regional, continental and global levels.
He highlighted key challenges facing social security in Africa, including the dominance of informal economies, limited coverage, funding constraints and changing demographic trends. He urged ASSA to approach those challenges with optimism, describing them as opportunities to innovate, collaborate and build inclusive systems that respond to Africa’s realities.
The new Vice Chairman reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening cooperation among African social security institutions, calling for accelerated digitization, improved use of technology to expand access and streamlined administrative processes. He also stressed the need for harmonized approaches and stronger regional collaboration to improve efficiency and impact.
Mohamed Fuaad Daboh further encouraged deeper engagement with the informal sector, advocating innovative strategies to extend meaningful social protection to workers and families traditionally excluded from formal systems. “I am ready to work hand in hand with colleagues across the continent to transform the pension and social security landscape in Africa,” he said.
In a congratulatory message, ASSA Secretary Meshech Bandawe said Mohamed Fuaad Daboh’s election underscored his statesmanship, dedication and proven leadership at national and international levels. He added that ASSA’s ongoing transformation and harmonization efforts would benefit significantly from Mohamed Fuaad Daboh’s guidance, particularly during the temporary absence of the substantive Chairman.
Mohamed Fuaad Daboh’s election builds on an established record of international recognition. In January 2020, he was appointed Vice-Chairperson of the Technical Commission on Investment of Social Security Funds of the International Social Security Association (ISSA) for the 2020–2022 term and in 2022 he was elected a Member of the ISSA Bureau for a three-year term.
ASSA was founded in March 2007 in Kigali as the East and Central Africa Social Security Association (ECASSA) and was renamed ASSA in April 2023 to reflect its expanded continental mandate. The Association was officially registered in July 2023 in Tanzania and has since been formally endorsed by the African Union as a continental social security institution.
