2025 WAICA Education Conference Opens in Lagos with Focus on Climate Risks and Insurance Innovation

The 2025 West African Insurance Companies Association (WAICA) Education Conference has officially commenced in Lagos, bringing together insurers, regulators, and policymakers from across West Africa to address the growing impact of climate change on the insurance industry.

Themed “The West African Insurer in the Face of Climate Change,” the three day conference, hosted at the Eko Hotel by the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), seeks to build regional capacity and foster collaboration on how insurers can effectively manage climate related risks while driving sustainable growth.

Representatives from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and The Gambia are participating in the conference, which serves as a key platform for professional development, policy dialogue, and strategic networking within the sub region’s insurance community.

Speaking ahead of the event, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Nwachukwu, Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee, emphasized the urgency of the climate crisis and its implications for insurance underwriting.

“This conference provides a vital opportunity for us to deliberate on emerging climate risks and develop innovative frameworks to underwrite and mitigate these challenges,” she said. “It will be an eye-opener for all participants, enhancing our readiness to manage the realities of a changing environment.”

Experts, including the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka Anite (who will deliver the keynote address), and Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Olusegun Omosehin (Chief Host), will lead discussions on climate adaptation, policy reform, and regional insurance resilience. Other distinguished speakers include Dr. Abiba Zakaria, Acting Commissioner of Insurance, Ghana; Mr. Wole Oshin, GMD of Custodian Investment Plc; Mr. Bockarie Kaloko, Deputy Minister of Finance, Sierra Leone; and Ms. Tola Adegbayi, MD/CEO of Mutual Specialist.

The conference aims to strengthen collaboration among West African insurers, improve risk management practices, and advance solutions that support climate adaptation and financial inclusion across the sub region.

Beyond technical sessions, participants will engage in networking and cultural events, including a Monday Evening Soirée sponsored by Africa Reinsurance Corporation, a Closing Dinner Ceremony on Tuesday, and a guided Lagos city tour highlighting the state’s economic vibrancy and cultural heritage.

Organisers describe Lagos as an ideal host city, citing its strategic importance as Africa’s financial hub and its reputation for hospitality and innovation.

By the end of the conference, WAICA aims to set a unified regional agenda for climate risk management and build stronger institutional frameworks to ensure the insurance sector remains resilient in the face of global environmental change.