The West African Insurance Companies Association (WAICA) has announced the lineup of speakers for its 2025 Education Conference, set to hold from October 12 to 15 at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos. In a statement signed by WAICA Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Davis Iyasere, the four-day event will focus on “The West African Insurer In The Face Of Climate Change” and is expected to attract about 150 members from Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia and other countries in the region.
Mr. Iyasere said the keynote address will be delivered by the Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr. Olusegun Ayo Omosehin. With decades of experience regulating Nigeria’s insurance industry, Mr. Omosehin will examine how insurers can adapt underwriting, risk management and product design to address rising climate risks.
Among other confirmed speakers is Mr. Bockarie Kaloko, Deputy Minister of Finance for the Republic of Sierra Leone. Mr. Kaloko will share Sierra Leone’s recent efforts to build climate-resilient insurance solutions following increasing flood and drought events. His presentation will showcase regional public-private partnerships that have helped mobilise financing for climate adaptation projects.
From Nigeria’s private sector, Mr. Wole Oshin, Group Managing Director of Custodian Investments Plc, will speak on the role of institutional investors in financing green infrastructure across West Africa. Mr. Oshin, whose firm holds significant stake in energy and transport projects, will outline strategies for crowding in long-term capital to support projects that reduce carbon emissions.
Representing Ghana, Dr. Abiba Zakariah, Acting Commissioner of Insurance at the National Insurance Commission of Ghana, will discuss that country’s regulatory measures to encourage development of climate-aware insurance products. Dr. Zakariah will highlight how Ghana has leveraged reinsurance programmes and catastrophe bonds to protect vulnerable communities from extreme weather events.
Commenting on the choice of Lagos as host city, the Director-General of the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Mrs. Bola Odukale, said, “We expect this conference to broaden our understanding of the theme. Lagos is the Centre of Excellence in West Africa, and we look forward to insights that will shape our industry’s response to climate challenges. Delegates will benefit from conference papers that can transform both our thinking and our businesses across Africa.”
In his remarks, Mr. Eddie Efekoha, Chairman of CHI Holdings Limited and former President of WAICA, stressed Nigeria’s role as the biggest insurance market in the region. “I am happy Nigeria will host the conference,” he said. “We will extend our famous Nigerian hospitality to all delegates, especially first-timers. I encourage visitors to come early or stay after October 15 to enjoy Lagos’s landmarks and cultural sites. This conference is a total package of learning and leisure.”
Also addressing participants, Mr. Tope Smart, Past President of the African Insurance Organisation and Chairman of NEM Insurance Plc, noted Nigeria’s strong talent pool and attractiveness as an investment destination. “Nigeria remains one of the best places to invest,” Mr. Smart said. “Our industry is home to skilled professionals, and delegates will see firsthand the opportunities for growth in our market.”
WAICA Education Conferences rotate among member countries, enabling each jurisdiction to showcase local achievements and challenges. The 2025 gathering will combine plenary sessions, panel discussions and interactive workshops designed to foster collaboration on climate-related risk management, green finance and sustainable insurance practices.
Organisers say the focus on climate change reflects insurers’ vital role in protecting communities and economies from more frequent natural disasters. By sharing best practices from English- and French-speaking markets, WAICA aims to develop a regional roadmap for climate resilience in the insurance sector.
With the theme spotlighting climate change, delegates will explore how to integrate environmental risk assessments into pricing models, develop affordable microinsurance for farmers affected by erratic rainfall, and leverage digital platforms for faster claims processing after storms. Stakeholders will also discuss regulatory incentives, such as premium discounts for low-carbon assets and government-backed reinsurance pools.
As the global insurance industry faces mounting pressure to align with the Paris Agreement, West African insurers see the conference as an opportunity to position the region as a proactive partner in climate action. WAICA’s leadership hopes the Lagos meeting will spur new partnerships between insurers, governments, investors and development agencies to fund resilient infrastructure and protect vulnerable populations.
The 2025 WAICA Education Conference promises to be a landmark event for the West African insurance industry. By bringing together regulators, industry executives and government officials under one roof, the forum aims to chart a collective path toward a more sustainable, climate-smart future for the region.
