BY NGOZI ONYEAKUSI

‎L-R: Iyabo Ogunjuyigbe, NAIPE member; Chris Ebong, NAIPE member; Nkechi Naeche-Esezobor, NAIPE Chairperson; Ifesinachi Okpaku, Head, Corporate Communications, Heirs Insurance; Rosemary Iwunze, NAIPE General Secretary; Chuks Okonta, Immediate past NAIPE Chairman; Nike Popoola, NAIPE PRO, during a courtesy visit of NAIPE to Heirs Insurance in Lagos.
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Heirs Insurance and the Nigerian Association of Insurance and Pension Editors (NAIPE) have resolved to strengthen their strategic partnership to deepen public sensitization and drive grassroots advocacy within the country’s insurance sector.
The commitment was renewed during a courtesy visit by the NAIPE executive committee, led by its Chairman, Mrs. Nkechi Naeche-Esezobor, to the insurance firm’s headquarters.
Speaking on behalf of the management, the Head of Communications for Heirs Insurance, Ifesinachi Okpaku, stated that the company remains deeply committed to its long-standing alliance with the media association.
“This is what we started out with—partnerships, and very strong partnerships,” Okpaku said. “I am very glad that the partnership has lasted this long and will continue to last.”
Okpaku commended NAIPE and its members for their consistent role in educating the public, noting that their reporting has significantly improved the public’s understanding of insurance. Despite historically low penetration rates, she emphasized that the sector continues to generate positive developments that the public can learn from.
To build on these gains, Okpaku proposed a collaborative, joint workshop bringing together financial journalists, industry practitioners, and corporate communications teams. According to her, the initiative would bridge perspective gaps and forge a united approach toward impactful, on-the-ground grassroots advocacy.

Responding on behalf of the association, the Chairman of NAIPE, Mrs. Nkechi Naeche-Esezobor, pledged NAIPE’s readiness to collaborate on targeted capacity building and localized advocacy to accelerate insurance penetration nationwide.

Esezobor noted that bridging the gap between industry practitioners and the press is critical to rewriting the narrative of the insurance sector and driving financial inclusion.

She praised Heirs Insurance for its deliberate focus on strong institutional partnerships since its inception, describing the media as a vital ally in breaking down complex financial concepts for ordinary Nigerians.
The Chairman reaffirmed NAIPE’s commitment to providing a balanced, professional platform that highlights growth, regulatory compliance, and innovations among forward-thinking operators within the insurance and pension landscapes.