emPLE has announced a strategic partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Health (LSMOH) and Bastion Health to celebrate International Women’s Day 2026 through its emPOWERHer campaign.
This community-focused health initiative aims at promoting preventive healthcare for women and their children.
Taking place on Saturday, March 7, 2026, by 8am at emPLE’s headquarters in Lagos, the initiative brings together public and private-sector partners to offer free screenings, vaccinations, and wellness activities in a unified call to action for proactive women’s health.
Under the collaboration, LSMOH will lead specialised medical interventions, including cervical and breast cancer screenings as well as free Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations for girls aged 9–14. Bastion Health will coordinate routine health checks, such as hypertension screening, blood sugar tests, and Body Mass Index (BMI) assessments.
The programme will start with an awareness walk from emPLE’s head office to Muri Okunola Junction, and back, symbolising collective advocacy for women’s wellbeing. This will be followed by a cardio and fitness session, along with a full range of health screenings.
Commenting on the initiative, Olalekan Oyinlade, Managing Director/CEO of emPLE General Insurance Limited, said, “International Women’s Day is a powerful reminder that protecting women’s wellbeing requires practical action. Through emPOWERHer and our partners in Lagos State and Bastion Health, we are helping remove barriers to early detection and prevention by bringing essential services closer to the community.
Also commenting, Jolaolu Fakoya, Acting Managing Director/CEO of emPLE Life Assurance Limited, stated that “When women have access to timely screening, routine checks, and credible health information, outcomes improve for families and for the next generations. emPOWERHer reflects our commitment to empowering Nigerians, especially our women, to take proactive steps toward protecting their health.”
The event is also supported by Sosa Fruit Drinks, which will provide its refreshing fruit drinks to participants. Activities for the day include an awareness walk, cardio and fitness session, breast cancer screening, cervical cancer screening, hypertension checks, blood sugar level tests, BMI assessments, and free HPV vaccination for girls aged 9–14.

Leadway, Nigeria’s leading non-banking financial and wellbeing conglomerate, has deepened its commitment to the growth of the nation’s creative industry by sponsoring the +234 Art Fair for the third consecutive year.
Leadway’s continued sponsorship underscores its belief in creative expression as a powerful driver of cultural and national development. Through its partnership with the +234 Art Fair, Leadway provides not only financial backing but also strategic support to strengthen Nigeria’s creative economy and nurture long-term artistic talent.
This year’s edition of the +234 Art Fair takes place from March 5–8, 2026, at the Ecobank Pan African Centre, Lagos. The 2026 fair places strong emphasis on Inclusivity, a principle that goes beyond a slogan to shape how the fair is curated, experienced, and remembered. The approach ensures broader access, diverse representation, and meaningful engagement across Nigeria’s artistic landscape.
“At Leadway, we recognise the creative industry as an essential part of Nigeria’s cultural and economic fabric. A true national soft power,” said Managing Director, Leadway Pensure, Olusakin Labeodan on behalf of the Leadway Group.
“Beyond the artistic value, the creative sector contributes meaningfully to job creation, fosters innovation, and enterprise development. Our partnership with the +234 Art Fair reflects our commitment to supporting structured platforms that provide emerging creatives with access to markets, mentorship, and sustainable growth opportunities.”
Launched in 2024, the +234 Art Fair has quickly become one of Nigeria’s most important platforms for emerging and unrepresented artists. The fair brings together painters, sculptors, photographers, and digital artists, creating opportunities to connect with collectors, art enthusiasts, and industry stakeholders. It has established itself as a vital avenue for professional development and increased visibility within both local and international art markets.
By centering inclusivity, the fair highlights the importance of accessible opportunities for artists from diverse backgrounds, disciplines, and communities within Nigeria’s creative ecosystem. This focus reinforces its commitment to broad representation and equitable participation in the arts.
“For more than fifty years, Leadway has stood as a pillar of innovation and impact in Nigeria. We recognise that investing in the institutions that shape our society is not only a responsibility, but a strategic imperative for national progress. Our support for the +234 Art Fair is an expression of this commitment to inclusive growth, cultural preservation, and generational nation-building. We are determined to champion platforms that empower emerging talent and ensure that our legacy endures across Nigeria’s creative landscape”, said Labeodan.
Leadway has been an active partner of the +234 Art Fair since the fair’s earliest edition, supporting the initiative while helping artists connect with collectors, curators, and new audiences. Beyond the fair, this approach reflects the company’s broader ethos of backing platforms that create lasting value across communities, industries, and society.

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) on Monday in Abuja signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to enhance collaboration and strengthen the insurance industry, particularly in relation to public procurement processes.
The MoU was signed by the Commissioner for Insurance, Olusegun Omosehin, and the Director-General of BPP, Adebowale Adedokun, when the former welcomed the latter and his delegation to NAICOM for a working visit.
Omosehin highlighted the role of NAICOM as the statutory regulator charged with supervising, regulating and promoting the growth of Nigeria’s insurance industry.
He emphasised that NAICOM’s current reform priorities include policyholder protection, regulatory capacity building, legal modernisation, recapitalisation, and increasing insurance penetration.
Describing the visit as significant, the Commissioner stated that the collaboration would reinforce the principles of public procurement and insurance practice in Nigeria.
He noted that achieving President Bola Tinubu’s vision of transforming Nigeria’s economy into a one-trillion-dollar economy requires strong inter-agency cooperation.
The CFI stressed that the Commission’s reform objectives cannot be fully realised without strategic collaboration with agencies such as BPP.
The Commissioner further disclosed plans to establish a platform to monitor and verify insurance coverage for public procurement items and assured that insurance operators would strictly adhere to established rules and standards.
The CFI stated that the signing of the MoU is a pivotal step in aligning the role of insurance with national development goals.
BPP’s sector-specific procurement approach and digitalisation agenda complements NAICOM’s objectives by ensuring insurance procurement is transparent, efficient and aligned with national development priorities such as the Nigerian First policy and affirmative procurement for women, youth, startups and persons with disabilities.
In his remarks, the Director-General of BPP commended the transformation in the insurance industry, describing the Commission’s environment as serene and reflective of its readiness to support the Federal Government’s economic growth agenda.
He welcomed the partnership and highlighted implementation as the critical next phase: “Signing MoU is only the beginning — what matters is delivery. BPP has moved to a fully digital submission model to speed approvals and reduce opportunities for corruption”.
He also called on contractors and procuring entities to adopt insurance bonds to support Nigerian insurance sector growth and development and comply with the Nigeria First policy and affirmative procurement principles of the current administration.
Adedokun reiterated BPP’s commitment to sector-specific procurement approaches that match value for money and support local industry development.
He reaffirmed that regulatory oversight rests with both NAICOM and BPP, ensuring transparency and accountability. On capacity building, he recommended closer collaboration between both agencies and pledged BPP’s commitment to achieving shared goals.
He stressed that under his leadership, BPP would not condone unethical practices or grant approvals to unqualified operators, urging insurance companies to ensure their inclusion in the BPP database for effective monitoring.
The MoU formalises joint commitments to:
• Standardize and clarify insurance requirements across public procurement, including insurance bonds for public procurement.
• Promote financial stability and consumer protection.
• Use of insurance bonds to support local insurance market growth and increase local content in public contracts.
• Establish a joint technical working group and periodic retreats to monitor implementation, troubleshoot challenges and refine sector-specific procurement templates and guidelines.
The signing of the MoU marks a significant milestone in strengthening transparency, protecting public assets, and institutionalising robust risk management within Nigeria’s procurement system.
By embedding insurance more firmly into public procurement processes, the partnership enhances governance standards and builds greater confidence in government transactions.
As Nigeria advances its agenda for economic renewal, this collaboration underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to modernizing the insurance sector and elevating it as a key driver of national development. NAICOM remains dedicated to delivering reforms that deepen trust, strengthen compliance, and position insurance as an essential tool for safeguarding public resources and supporting sustainable economic transformation.