By Bisi Bamishe
Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) is set to host Insurance Week 2026, a landmark eight-day programme of public engagement, industry dialogue, education, and celebration, running from 15 to 22 May 2026. Now in its second edition, Insurance Week has firmly established itself as the most significant collective effort by the Nigerian insurance industry to deepen public awareness, promote insurance adoption and celebrate industry excellence.
Building on the resounding success of the inaugural edition in Year 2025, the Year 2026 programme has been significantly expanded in scope, reach and ambition. All CIIN chapters across the country are participating simultaneously, making this the most geographically inclusive insurance awareness campaign in Nigeria’s history.
According to Mrs Yetunde Olubunmi Ilori, 52nd President and Chairman of Council, CIIN, “This is not just a celebration. It is a call to action. Without insurance, our economy remains vulnerable and our people less secure. We have no choice but to deepen penetration and broaden participation — and Insurance Week is our vehicle for doing so.”
This year’s theme, “Insurance: A Future Redefined,” reflects a bold institutional conviction that the future of insurance in Nigeria is not merely approaching — it is being actively shaped today. The theme challenges industry practitioners, regulators, students, entrepreneurs and the general public to reimagine insurance as a dynamic, accessible and essential pillar of personal and national financial security.
At the centre of the campaign is NIKO, the CIIN brand mascot, who makes a spectacular return in an upgraded form that embodies the spirit of the theme: familiar, forward-looking and unmistakably bold. NIKO has appeared across digital campaigns and social media throughout April and now, May, generating significant public anticipation ahead of the week’s formal opening.
HIGHLIGHTS OF INSURANCE WEEK 2026
Several landmark initiatives distinguish this year’s edition from its predecessor:
● Launch of Insurance Literacy Books
At the Grand Opening Ceremony on 18 May, CIIN will unveil two groundbreaking educational publications — one designed for primary school pupils under the title “A to Z of Insurance” and a second for secondary school students, both crafted to introduce insurance concepts in an engaging, age-appropriate format. These books represent a significant milestone in CIIN’s commitment to embedding insurance literacy into Nigeria’s educational mainstream.
● The CIIN Hackathon
The CIIN InsurQuest Hackathon, one of the flagship initiatives of Insurance Week, returns for its second edition with a larger and more diverse cohort of young innovators from across Nigeria. Created to deepen youth awareness of the insurance industry and inspire the next generation of insurance innovators, the programme introduces participants to real industry challenges while showcasing insurance as a dynamic space for innovation, technology, entrepreneurship and impact.
Over the past month, participants have engaged in intensive masterclasses, practical workshops, and mentorship sessions focused on developing technology-driven solutions to real challenges facing the Nigerian insurance industry. Guided by experienced industry professionals, the teams have explored themes including Inclusive Insurance, Data & AI, Customer Experience and ESG & Sustainability, while building functional prototypes ready for market pilots.
All participating teams will pitch their solutions during the InsurQuest Demo Day scheduled for 21 May 2026 at the College of Insurance and Financial Management, Aseese.
The impact of the inaugural Year 2025 edition continues to resonate across the industry. One team, Ifokanbale, made up of university students, developed a solution called “Lift Income Protection Insurance,” which attracted the interest of an industry mentor who subsequently engaged the team professionally. Another team of young insurance professionals extended its work into the Makoko community in Lagos and is currently exploring product licensing opportunities with international partners; further demonstrating the transformative potential of the programme and the power of youth-led innovation within insurance.
● Nationwide Grassroots Engagement
● Nationwide Grassroots Engagement
Insurance Week 2026 moves beyond Lagos for the first time with full chapter participation across the country. Cities including Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, and others will host simultaneous Markets Engagement activities on 20 May, ensuring that the message of insurance reaches traders, artisans, and informal sector operators at the grassroots level across all geopolitical zones.
● Schools and MSME Outreach
On 19 May, CIIN members and industry volunteers will visit secondary schools, selected tertiary institutions and small business associations across Lagos. Students enrolled in insurance and actuarial science departments have been encouraged to lead outreach within their own campuses, creating a peer-to-peer awareness dynamic that is uniquely effective with younger audiences.
● Grand Finale and Awards Night — 22 May
The week will conclude with a prestigious Gala Night and Awards Ceremony on the evening of Friday, 22 May 2026. The event will feature individual and organisational recognitions, the selection of CIIN’s Insurance Ambassador for the coming year and a celebration of insurance professionals who have distinguished themselves in public advocacy. For the first time, CIIN will present a special recognition to non-insurance personalities who have publicly championed insurance, reflecting the Institute’s commitment to broadening insurance culture beyond the industry itself.
According to Mrs Funmi Omo, Chairman, Insurance Week 2026 Joint Planning Committee, “We are not here to speak to ourselves. We want to go to the marketplaces, speak with the MSMEs, the schools, and anyone who cares to listen. Insurance is for everyone, and this week is our opportunity to demonstrate that.”
INSURANCE PENETRATION: THE NATIONAL IMPERATIVE
Nigeria remains one of the most underinsured major economies in the world, with insurance penetration estimated at below one per cent of GDP. Insurance Week 2026 addresses this challenge head-on through a multi-pronged strategy of education, accessibility and public trust-building.
CIIN has partnered with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to extend insurance education to one million young Nigerians through a dedicated training initiative. The Institute is also collaborating with PENCOM and other regulatory bodies to ensure that employers of all sizes understand and meet their obligations with respect to group life insurance and pension products.
BUILDING ON 2025: KEY ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE INAUGURAL INSURANCE WEEK
The first edition of Insurance Week, held in Year 2025, exceeded all expectations and delivered several first-of-their-kind outcomes for the Nigerian insurance industry:
Insurance companies and agents recorded direct sales at marketplace outreach events for the first time through collaborative industry effort
The InsurQuest Hackathon produced high-quality, technology-driven insurance solutions, with one team securing professional engagement from an industry mentor and another advancing discussions around international product licensing.
CIIN partnered with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to identify and publicly celebrate the highest-scoring student in insurance examinations, as well as the schools presenting the highest number of insurance candidates
Over 2,000 small business owners affiliated with the Small and Medium Enterprises Association of Nigeria (SMEAN) were engaged on insurance products tailored to their needs
The event united the entire insurance industry, conventional insurers, micro-insurance providers, agents, brokers and regulators, all in a single collaborative programme for the first time
Radio outreach programmes attracted calls from listeners as far afield as Abidogun, demonstrating the national resonance of the campaign
