By Bisi Bamishe
Leadway Assurance, Nigeria’s leading insurance services provider, will participate in the Africa Climate Insurance Symposium 2026, scheduled for March 31 to April 1, 2026, in Frankfurt, Germany, to advance climate risk solutions for Africa. The symposium aims to kick off an annual cycle of such events bringing together a unique community operating in the area of Agricultural Index Insurance and therefore creating a highly specialized community of practice. Beyond the annual event the country level experts will form clusters and with support and mobilization of external solicitors will connect on an interim half year basis virtually to monitor and report on progress made.
During the symposium, Leadway will contribute to the panel discussion on ‘Scaling Agricultural Index Insurance for Resilient Food Systems’ – The private sector perspective and present a case study on innovative insurance models tailored for smallholder farmers. The Group will also participate in the Solution Showcase segment, where it will highlight the Leadway WeatherGuard product and share insights on collaborative initiatives that foster public-private partnerships for climate adaptation.
Themed “How Africa’s Insurers are Reshaping Climate Resilience from the Ground Up,” the symposium brings together insurance experts, development partners, and Agricultural stakeholders to explore practical, scalable responses to climate risks.
Leadway’s participation in the symposium aims to demonstrate how locally tailored made Agricultural Index insurance products have provided climate resilience for over three million Nigerian farmers, providing timely payouts in excess of N15 Billion in payouts over a five year period. This approach supports have farmer livelihoods, enables reinvestment, and underlines insurance’s role in strengthening food security and economic stability for African communities.
Speaking ahead of the event, Mr. Fatona Ayoola Paul, Leadway’s Global Head of Agricultural Risk Solutions, emphasised the urgency of strengthening Africa’s resilient frameworks through innovation, partnerships and collaboration. He explained that Leadway’s agricultural index insurance model stands out for using weather data and satellite technology to trigger automatic payouts when adverse conditions, such as drought or excessive rainfall, are recorded.
Unlike traditional indemnity insurance, this approach eliminates the need for costly, time-consuming farm assessments, enabling faster support to farmers. The insurance also offers bundled services, such as agronomic advisory services and digital enrollment, ensuring practical accessibility and greater impact for smallholder farmers.
“The demand for scaling Africa’s agricultural production is happening at interesting times when climate uncertainties and vulnerability are providing opportunities for innovation. This is where the Agricultural index insurance becomes an innovative concept that is now a practical tool transforming livelihoods across the continent. Platforms like this symposium allow us to deepen collaboration, share proven models, and accelerate impact to broaden such ingenious interventions across the continent,” he said.
The Africa Climate Insurance Symposium unites agricultural index insurance experts to build a dedicated community of practice. It drives cross-country collaboration among insurers, regulators, governments, and development partners, while encouraging international knowledge exchange. Through formal discussions and informal networking, participants will quickly share and replicate successful models to enhance regional cooperation.
The event brings together leaders and partners active in the insurance value chains such as Insuresilience Investment Funds (managed by Blue Orchard), Africa Reinsurance Corporation, Swiss Reinsurance, Continental Reinsurance, Bank of Agriculture, Pula Advisors, the Global Secretariat (BMZ/KFW), World Bank Global Shield Financing Facility, the Gates and Bayer Foundation among others to advance climate risk finance in Africa and continue laying the groundwork for regional replication.
With collaboration from key organizations and public-private partnerships, the symposium advances accessible, innovative insurance that bolsters African climate resilience and supports vulnerable communities. Leadway exemplifies African leadership through its actionable solutions and insights.
About Leadway Group
Leadway is a trusted Nigerian financial services group specializing in insurance, pensions, and wealth solutions. Known for innovation and strong governance since 1970, Leadway helps clients safeguard and grow their assets, reinforcing its leadership in the sector.
