The newly inaugurated 23rd president of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, Ekeoma Ezeibe, has unveiled plans to expand insurance awareness nationwide.

She said the initiative would begin with Abia as the pilot location for the national insurance penetration drive. Mr Ezeibe disclosed this while outlining her strategic roadmap for the council during a media briefing in Lagos on Tuesday.

She said her administration would leverage the NCRIB’s six area committees as frontline drivers to deepen insurance penetration and promote financial protection across the country.

“The founding fathers of NCRIB created these area committees to bring the council’s activities closer to the people. Under my tenure, they will no longer just replicate the centre’s programmes but become engines for real insurance growth across Nigeria.

“My administration will deliberately use these committees to spread the gospel of insurance to every corner of the nation,” she said.

Mr Ezeibe said the initiative would align with the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act 2025 (NIIRA 2025), which expanded compulsory insurance policies and strengthened NAICOM’s enforcement powers.

“We intend to take advantage of the new act, which has increased compulsory insurance and empowered NAICOM to enforce compliance effectively,” she said.

She explained that Abia was deliberately chosen as the launchpad due to its economic vibrancy and ongoing infrastructural revival.

Mr Ezeibe observed that insurance awareness remains higher in the South-West, while many commercial hubs in the South-East, particularly Aba, remain underinsured. She described Aba as the “commercial heartbeat of the East”, recalling its legacy as a major industrial hub hosting several multinational firms.

“Starting with all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory at once would be unrealistic. Abia will serve as our test case. Once we achieve measurable success there, we will replicate the model across the country.

“Aba was once home to numerous manufacturing and export businesses, especially in leather and fashion goods. With the revival of infrastructure, energy, and markets under Governor Alex Otti, the environment is now ripe for insurance growth,” she said.

Mr Ezeibe commended the governor for his private-sector-friendly reforms, particularly the independent power project by Geometrics and the modernisation of Ariaria Market.

She said the NCRIB would collaborate with the Abia government to promote compulsory insurance coverage and safeguard emerging investments.

“When companies do well, employment rises and the economy breathes again. But without insurance, we fail to secure tomorrow’s opportunities. Partnering with Abia is the fastest route to ensuring economic sustainability,” she said.

Mr Ezeibe reaffirmed her commitment to inclusive growth within NCRIB, assuring that no member would be left out of new business opportunities. She pledged to collaborate with underwriters and loss adjusters to ensure swift claims settlement and to build public trust in insurance.

“In capacity building, I intend to improve on what my predecessors achieved. That’s the value members should expect from the council,” she stated. “I will ensure brokers comply fully with NIIRA 2025 and complete the Olola Olabode Ogunlana NCRIB Annex Building initiated by my predecessor.”

(NAN)