Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has called for a grassroots-driven approach to expanding insurance coverage across Nigeria, urging industry stakeholders to move beyond policy discussions and implement practical measures that will make insurance products accessible and attractive to ordinary citizens.
Governor Otti made the call in Umuahia, on Tuesday at the unveiling of the Insurance Penetration Initiative during the 2026 Chief Executive Officers’ Retreat of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB).
The governor said the industry must embrace innovative strategies capable of driving meaningful growth in insurance uptake, particularly among underserved populations.
The initiative, for which Abia has been selected as the pilot state, is designed to take insurance awareness directly to communities and stimulate wider participation in the sector.
Governor Otti while addressing insurance executives, regulators and stakeholders gathered at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, venue of the retreat, stressed that achieving greater insurance penetration would require deliberate action and sustained commitment.
“The central theme of my message, however, is that we now have to pull ourselves up by the push-ups and do whatever needs to be done to drive the outcomes that we seek as stakeholders.
“The assignment for us in Umuahia is to take advantage of the certainty that the environment provides to draw strategies that would deepen insurance penetration in every part of the country”, he added.
The governor proposed the development of a framework for recruiting and training young insurance ambassadors who would work within markets and communities to educate residents on the benefits of insurance coverage.
According to him, public understanding remains a critical challenge confronting the industry, and added that “people need to know what they stand to benefit by buying insurance cover for themselves.
“The changes that we seek will not happen by mere wish. All hands have to be on deck to bring our people to a new awareness of the opportunities and protection that exist in the industry.
Governor Otti disclosed that the Abia Leadership Academy has been directed to incorporate insurance-related subjects into its 2026 training programmes to expose young people to the opportunities and relevance of insurance in modern society.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s readiness to support initiatives aimed at strengthening the sector, and commended the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and the leadership of the NCRIB for efforts to reposition the industry.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer of NAICOM, Mr Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, described insurance as a critical pillar of economic resilience, noting that stronger insurance systems contribute significantly to national development.
He said Abia’s growing reputation as a destination for investment informed the decision to launch the initiative in the state.
“So I’m calling on investors across the globe to find a ready place in Abia State. The state is ready, it’s mature, and the environment is right for investment.
“To this extent, the insurance industry will be behind you to provide all the necessary resilience”, Omosehin said.
He assured Nigerians that the commission remains committed to making insurance services more accessible, reliable and understandable, and urged operators to communicate insurance products in simple and practical terms that resonate with citizens.
In her remarks, President of the NCRIB, Mrs Ekeoma Ezeibe, said the retreat was convened against the backdrop of persistently low insurance penetration in Nigeria, especially within the informal sector.
She noted that the gathering, themed “Leading with Innovation,” was designed to explore fresh strategies for strengthening leadership, enhancing collaboration and accelerating insurance adoption nationwide.
Ezeibe commended the Abia State Government for providing an enabling environment for business and supporting efforts aimed at expanding financial inclusion through insurance.
