BY NGOZI ONYEAKUSI

From left: Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Mr. Tope Adaramola; President, Mrs. Ekeoma Ezeibe; and Vice President, Mrs. Funke Adenusi, during a press briefing in Lagos

The new President of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Mrs. Ekeoma Ezeibe, has unveiled her thrust of office tagged ‘One Insurance Industry’ anchored on promoting unity of all arms of the industry and deepening insurance penetration.

Briefing the journalists in Lagos, Ezeibe said her administration will focus on the following major pillars;  deepening insurance penetration, completing and commissioning the Olola Olabode Ogunlana House and fostering good relationship with the regulator, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), capacity building for NCRIB members and collaboration with necessary stakeholders.

From left: Chairperson of National Association of Insurance and Pension Editors Mrs. Nkechi Naeche-Esezobor; Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, Tope Adaramola; President Mrs. Ekeoma Ezeibe and Deputy President Mrs. Funke Adenusi at the event

According to her “One Insurance Industry” vision, represents a deliberate effort to reposition the insurance sector as a key player in Nigeria’s economic growth.

“One Insurance Industry means we will consciously do things that will help us take our rightful place in the economy,” she said.

She noted that focusing on one insurance industry as a key driver would help put the sector in its rightful place in the economy of Nigeria.

“When we talk about the insurance industry, it means that we have already realized that we really need something for the consumer, especially insurance brokers. We are the people that reach out to the consumers; this is our responsibility to do so. It is our responsibility to go out there and take advantage of the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act NIIRA (2025),” she said.

Mrs. Ezeibe pointed out that the new Act introduces more compulsory insurance policies and grants NAICOM stronger enforcement powers, a move she described as a game changer for the sector.

To drive insurance penetration, the NCRIB President announced plans to leverage the Council’s six area committees spread across the country which are Lagos, Western, Abuja, Northern, South-South, and Eastern, not only to replicate national programmes but also to promote insurance awareness at the grassroots.

As part of this agenda, she noted that Abia State has been selected as the pilot scheme for the insurance penetration project.

“We cannot start with all 36 states at once,” she explained. “Abia was chosen because we must begin where we understand the terrain and can measure real impact. The Southeast, particularly Abia, presents a great opportunity to spread the gospel of insurance.”

On infrastructure development, Mrs. Ezeibe commended her predecessor, Prince Babatunde Oguntade, for his work on the ongoing NCRIB building project and pledged to ensure its completion and commissioning during her tenure.

“By God’s grace, we will all be alive to witness the commissioning of the NCRIB House, named after the doyen of the Nigerian insurance industry,” she stated.

She also reiterated the need for continued partnership with NAICOM to ensure a cohesive and effective insurance ecosystem.

“With unity of purpose, collaboration, and renewed drive for penetration, the Nigerian insurance industry will emerge stronger,” Mrs. Ezeibe affirmed.

Ezeibe therefore urged the National Association of Insurance Editors (NAIPE) the partner with NCRIB to ensure all said is achieved.