Lagos: The Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) announced that the 2025 Education Conference of the West African Insurance Companies Association (WAICA) will focus on the significant role insurers play in addressing climate change. The event, organized by NIA on behalf of Nigeria’s insurance market, aims to enhance regional cooperation among insurers concerning climate issues.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Nwachukwu, Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee, stated that the conference, set to take place in October in Lagos, will provide insurers with the necessary tools to navigate the changing climate environment. The agenda will cover a range of topics including climate-resilient insurance models, regulatory frameworks, innovations in digital claims processing, green underwriting practices, and the importance of regional collaboration and public-private partnerships.
Nwachukwu highlighted additional focal points such as offering premium discounts for low-carbon assets and establishing government-backed reinsurance pools to fortify the industry’s ability to manage climate risks. The conference will also explore the role of insurers in protecting communities and economies while aligning with international climate commitments such as the Paris Agreement.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the conference will attract delegates from Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and other West African nations. The theme for this year’s gathering is ‘The West African Insurer in the Face of Climate Change’.
According to Nwachukwu, participants will have the opportunity to learn from best practices across Anglophone West Africa and interact with leaders who are at the forefront of climate-aware insurance in the region. Confirmed speakers include Mr. Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), who will deliver the keynote address, along with Mr. Bockarie Kaloko, Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Finance; Mr. Wole Oshin, Group Managing Director of Custodian Investment Plc; and Dr. Abiba Zakariah, Ghana’s Acting Commissioner of Insurance.