NIA Boss Tasks Underwriting Experts on Policy Advocacy, Economic Influence

By LOVETH-AZODO CHIJIOKE,  Lagos

The Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) has challenged its technical working arms to transition from passive operational advisory bodies into aggressive policy architects capable of shaping national economic directives and de-risking key growth sectors of the federation.

The Chairman of the NIA, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Nwachukwu, gave the charge in Lagos during a strategic breakfast session with the chairmen and secretaries of the association’s 16 specialised technical committees.

Setting an ambitious agenda for the industry’s technical cadre, Nwachukwu stated that the ongoing structural shifts in the domestic macroeconomic landscape demand that institutional risk underwriters abandon their historical, reactive disposition and actively lead fiscal and regulatory dialogues.

She argued that underwriting institutions cannot remain peripheral observers while critical macroeconomic, industrial, and social policies are formulated without insurance input.

“As insurers, we must not be reactive but proactive in driving conversations around policies and developments affecting the economy and its various sectors,” Nwachukwu told the technical chiefs. “As primary risk bearers, we have a critical role to play in providing insights and solutions that promote economic stability and resilience.”

The NIA chairman noted that the association’s Governing Council relies heavily on technical committee outputs to craft policy memoranda, define market conduct codes, and engage regulatory authorities like the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM).

To amplify this institutional voice, she tasked the working groups to consistently deliver empirical research, forward-looking market recommendations, and swift technical responses to emerging systemic risks.

“The NIA must become stronger and more influential in advancing the collective interests of the insurance industry. To achieve this, our technical committees must be at the forefront of driving meaningful engagements, developing practical solutions, and providing strategic recommendations that will strengthen the market,” she maintained.

Echoing the chairman’s call, the Director-General of the NIA, Mrs. Bola Odukale, pledged that the secretariat would streamline communication pipelines to ensure that actionable committee proposals receive rapid consideration and translation into industry-wide implementation.

Odukale assured the committee executives of enhanced institutional and logistical backing, noting that regular technical evaluations are necessary to align industry practices with contemporary international benchmarks.

The parley drew leadership from key functional desks across the underwriting spectrum, covering critical pillars including the Energy and Special Risks Technical Committee, Agricultural Insurance Committee, Marine Offices Committee, Reinsurance Committee, and the Life Offices Committee.

Other represented operational panels included the Accounting, Claims Management, Information Technology, Legal, Microinsurance, Motor, and the Risks, Audit, and Compliance Committees, signaling a synchronized push by the NIA to fortify its technical spine and bolster stakeholder confidence across the financial services sector.