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Expert Tasks Insurance, Pension Operators On Products That Meet People’s Needs

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COO PenOp, Aguda Oguche (left); Director, Corporate Communications, PenCom, Peter Aghahowa; Mrs Folashade Onanuga, former DG Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC), Feyisayo Soyewo, Chairman/CEO, Prestige Insurance Brokers (the Chairman of the occasion), Representative of the Commissioner for Insurance, Sunday Thomas.
By Sola Alabadan
Former Director General of Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC), Mrs. Folashade Onanuga, has charged insurance and pension operators on creativity and innovation in their products development and service delivery by focusing on meeting the needs of the people for enhanced financial capacity.
Mrs. Onanuga made this call while delivering the theme paper of the 2021 national conference of the National Association of Insurance and Pension Correspondents (NAIPCO) titled “COVID-19 Impact On Financial Inclusion: Opportunities For Insurance & Pension Sectors” in Lagos today.
She also enjoined the operators to leverage the opportunities thrown up by the COVID-19 pandemic to grow the sectors and contribute to the National economy.
While affirming that the pandemic has caused severe disruptions, she pointed out that opportunities have also been created to grow customer base on account of the obvious fact that there is no real social security arrangement by government in the event of sudden and unexpected events and so citizens need to make plans by themselves for wellness both in business and family life.
According to her, “Economic shocks like sudden loss of job, illness or death can send people living just above the poverty line into abject poverty.  So whether one is in the formal or informal sector, there is the need to have a safety net.  The sudden and unforeseen calamities created by the pandemic has highlighted the need to plan for unforeseen circumstances and even early retirement.
To take advantage of these opportunities, she said, the pensions and insurance industries must remain committed to the inclusive growth of the Nigerian economy, creating opportunities for lower income groups to be part of the broader financial system.
She noted that, “Financial inclusion is achieved when adult Nigerians have access to affordable financial products and services that meet their needs. Financial inclusion can only be achieved when financial transaction processes and documentations are transparent, simplified and seen as meeting needs of the people and at the same time being beneficial to the financial services sector.”
“Speaking of insurance, opportunities exist to increase insurance penetration and the customer base, both in the retail and corporate segments of the market if the right moves are made. Insurance penetration has remained at an average of 0.4% of GDP driven largely by a general lack of understanding and awareness of the benefits of insurance products, specifically amongst low-income Nigerians.  We need to build trust. The Banking Sector has managed to bridge this gap to an extent.
“Attempts have been made to improve the performance of the insurance industry through regulation and legislation – new capitalization requirements have been announced and reviews of several key laws are being discussed to bring them up to current realities,” Mrs Onanuga added.
In improving access to insurance and making products and services more inclusive, we are discovering that there is a role for all stakeholders to play.
For pension sector, according to the former LASPEC boss, “inclusive growth in pensions must recognize the peculiarity of the population segment being addressed, adding that This recognition must have an impact on how products are designed and how lower income segments of the population interact with pension funds. If you consider what happens in developed economies, there are different kinds of plans to meet different needs.”
For the trust gap to be bridged, Mrs. Onanuga called on the National Pension Commission (PenCom) to take more advantage of digitization in pension operations to make transactions easier and more accessible by taking example of what the banks have done to provide banking services to lower-income population groups by ensuring that structures are put in place before the release of pension laws to ensure that all aspects of the law are implementable.

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Leadway Health HMO Wins Award Again

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Leadway Health HMO has been honoured with the Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO) of the Year award at the Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Awards (NHEA) for the third consecutive year.
This achievement affirms Leadway Health HMO’s position as a consistent leader in delivering innovative, accessible, and customer-focused healthcare solutions across Nigeria. Leadway Health HMO set a new record, one that has never been achieved in the 15-year history of the NHEAwards.
The award, presented in Lagos recently, 2025, celebrates the organisation’s excellence in service delivery, technology integration, unmatched service delivery, and its expanding provider network.
Speaking on this achievement, Chief Executive Officer, Leadway Health HMO, Dr. Tokunbo Alli, stated, “Receiving the HMO of the Year award for the third consecutive year is a deeply meaningful milestone for us at Leadway Health HMO. It is more than an accolade; it is a resounding validation of our commitment to transforming healthcare delivery in Nigeria, Africa, and the world at large.
“In a country where fewer than one in ten people have access to health insurance, we recognise the immense responsibility we carry. Through our investment in digital innovation, operational efficiency, and inclusive health plans, we are not only improving access to quality care but also setting new benchmarks for service excellence within the industry. This recognition reflects the trust our customers place in us and the unwavering dedication of our team and partners who make our vision a reality every day.”
Alli added, “We will continue to scale our hospital partnerships, enhance claims transparency, and leverage technology to deliver even more accessible, affordable, and customer-centric healthcare solutions. This award strengthens our resolve to be at the forefront of Nigeria’s health transformation journey—driving meaningful change, one life at a time.”
Leadway Health HMO’s triple win comes at a time when trust and performance in the HMO sector are under scrutiny. With a growing population, rising healthcare costs, and a national goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030, the company’s performance positions it as a crucial stakeholder in driving Nigeria’s health transformation agenda.
The Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Awards, founded in 2014 by Global Health Project and Resources in collaboration with Anadach Group USA, is the industry’s most respected recognition platform. This year’s edition was themed “Collaborating for Impact: Strengthening Health Systems through the SWAP Approach”, emphasising unified efforts to drive change.

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NAICOM Charges Operators To Ignite Nationwide Conversation About Power Of Insurance

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The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has enjoined insurance operators to ensure that they ignite a nationwide conversation about the power of insurance as the inaugural edition of Insurance Week holds across the country.

The Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive of NAICOM, Olusegun Omosehin who spoke in Lagos on Monday, affirmed that the Insurance Week is designed to raise national awareness about the vital role of insurance in Nigeria’s growth and development.

To truly secure Nigeria’s future, he pointed out that “we must educate the public on the benefits of insurance, develop products that meet the needs of all Nigerians, wnsure prompt and transparent claims processing, as well as invest in talent and technology to drive innovation and trust.

At NAICOM, he said the regulatory body is committed to building a strong, inclusive, and globally respected insurance industry, and has been driving reforms to strengthen consumer protection, promote digital innovation, ensure capital adequacy and sound governance, while expanding access to underserved communities.

On why insurance matters, he stated that “In today’s fast-changing world, risks are everywhere—economic shocks, natural disasters, health crises, and more” adding that these uncertainties can disrupt lives and derail national progress.

“Insurance is our shield. It helps individuals, businesses, and governments manage these risks, recover from losses, and build resilience.
Without insurance, your economy would be more vulnerable, and our people less secure. That’s why this year’s theme, “Insurance for All: Securing Nigeria’s Future,” is both timely and essential” he emphasised.

Omosehin maintained that “The future of Nigeria depends on how well we manage risk. Every decision—whether by individuals, businesses, or government—carries uncertainty. Insurance provides the tools to navigate these uncertainties and protect our collective future.”

The NAICOM boss further urged the nsurance operators to renew their commitment to building an industry that serves the people and supports national development and use every platform—media, schools, communities, and workplaces—to spread the message that insurance is not a luxury; but a necessity.

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Gambian Delegation Visits NAICOM To Understudy Regulatory Approach

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L-R Nyang Madeleine Gomez, Compliance Officer, Central Bank of Gambia, Dr. Usman Jankara, NAICOM Deputy Commissioner, Technical, Drammeh Alieu, Senior Insurance Compliance Officer, Central Bank of Gambia and Mr. Ekerete Ola Gam-Ikon, NAICOM Deputy Commissioner, Finance and Administration, when the Gambian delegation visited NAICOM in Abuja on Monday.

By Sola Alabadan

A delegation from the Central Bank of The Gambia, led by Mr. Nyang Medeleine Gomez, paid a working visit to the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) on Monday in Abuja, with the aim of fostering regulatory collaboration and exchanging knowledge in key areas of insurance supervision.

The primary focus of the visit was to study Nigeria’s regulatory approach in three critical areas:

*Risk-Based Supervision
*Prudential Frameworks
*Inclusive Insurance

The delegation was received by the Deputy Commissioner for Technical, Dr. Usman Jankara, and the Deputy Commissioner, Finance and Administration, on behalf of the Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Olusegun Omosehin,
Mr. Ekerete Ola Gam-Ikon expressed NAICOM’s readiness for collaboration and mutual learning.
He described the engagement as a “knowledge-sharing visit,” noting that “no one regulator has all the answers,” and emphasized the importance of peer-to-peer learning in enhancing regulatory capacity across Africa.

In his remarks, Mr. Gomez explained that the visit was intended to:

* Understanding NAICOM’s implementation of a risk-based supervisory system to ensure a stable and resilient insurance sector

* Exploring strategies for expanding insurance access to underserved and low-income populations through inclusive insurance frameworks; and

* Learn best practices in prudential regulation to safeguard policyholders’ interests and uphold public confidence in the insurance market.

In his response, Dr. Jankara reaffirmed NAICOM’s commitment to supporting the Gambian delegation across all areas of interest.
He emphasised that Nigeria’s regulatory framework has evolved significantly, especially in corporate governance, where the Commission has moved from basic compliance to robust enforcement mechanisms.
He further noted that the newly passed Insurance Regulatory Bill, once it receives presidential assent, will contribute meaningfully to the current administration’s goal of achieving a one-trillion-dollar economy.

Dr. Jankara also highlighted NAICOM’s progress in promoting financial inclusion, citing the successful licensing of 15 microinsurance companies and 6 Takaful insurance providers, milestones that reflect growing insurance penetration. He assured the visiting delegation that NAICOM would share its operational templates and regulatory manuals through the appropriate directorates, while continuing engagement with key departments, including Inspectorate, Supervision, and Innovation & Regulation.

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