Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has set up a high-powered committee to boost insurance awareness across the state, positioning Abia as a pilot hub for industry reform in Nigeria.
The initiative will be carried out in partnership with the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), following a business visit to the governor by the Council’s president, Ekeoma Ezeibe, and her delegation.
According to a statement from NCRIB, Otti—who recently participated in the inauguration of the Council’s third female president in Lagos—expressed strong enthusiasm for the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025, describing it as a turning point for the sector.
“The governor disclosed that he has constituted a high-level working team within his government to work with the NCRIB on developing practical and sustainable insurance awareness strategies, with Abia proposed as the pilot state,” the statement said.
Otti also stressed the importance of youth involvement in sustaining the initiative, citing the Abia Leadership Academy, which he said has trained nearly 1,000 young people in leadership and governance.
In further support for the industry, the governor endorsed NCRIB’s 2026 Chief Executive Officers’ Retreat, scheduled to hold in Abia in June.
Speaking earlier, Ezeibe briefed the governor on the provisions of the NIIRA 2025 law, particularly compulsory insurance policies and the duty of care owed by governments to citizens.
She said Abia was chosen for the pilot project and the CEOs’ retreat based on the state government’s reforms and the need to expand insurance penetration in the South-East to stimulate regional growth.
Ezeibe listed the benefits of compulsory insurance to include job creation, investment growth, consumer protection, healthcare access, and economic stability, describing insurance as a critical tool for business continuity, asset protection and strengthening public trust.
