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AIO Strengthens Ties With Nigerian Insurers, Pledges Better Return For Members

Faces of CEOs of AIO member companies in Nigeria, flagged by the NIA Governing Council Members and Management during a visit of the Secretary General of the AIO, Mr. Jean Baptiste and Communication and Public Relations Officer of the AIO, Mr Charles Moki, to the Nigerian insurers market in Lagos.
The African Insurers Organisation (AIO) has moved to strengthen collaboration with the Nigerian insurance market while pledging more value in return for insurance companies of its member countries.
The Secretary General of the AIO, Mr. Jean Baptiste, said this during an official visit to the Nigerian Insurance Market in company of the AIO’s Communication and Public Relations Officer, Mr Charles Moki, hosted by the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) in Lagos.
The visit of the AIO officials to Nigeria began with a meeting with the NIA Chairman, Mr Kunle Ahmed, flagged by the management of the NIA, led by the Director-General, Mrs Bola Odukale, on Monday, May 5, 2025, followed by a meeting with the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of AIO member companies in Nigeria.
The visit extended to other arms of the industry on Tuesday and ended with a dinner organised by the NIA on Wednesday for the AIO officials, Past Chairman of the AIO, Mr Tope Smart, board member of the AIO, Mr Eddie Efekoha, and principal officers of various arms of the insurance industry.
Mr. Baptiste commended the growth and potential of the Nigerian insurance market, noting that the AIO has been led by Nigerian business leaders in the last 13 years.
“This is significant because it reflects strong support for the system and the organization. Nigeria contributes the highest number of delegates to AIO events yearly; hence, we are here to open conversation with our Nigerian members and ready to consider your remarks and suggestions to serve you better.
“I am impressed by the Nigerian insurance market’s resilience and potential for growth. The industry has shown remarkable progress, and I believe that with the right support and guidance, it can become a driving force in Africa’s economy, “he said.
The Secretary General highlighted the organization’s achievements, including convincing the AfCTA Secretariat that AIO is the rightful voice of the African insurance industry.
According to him, the AIO is working on a feasibility study to harmonize regulatory frameworks across Africa, in collaboration with the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) and funding from the Africa Reinsurance Corporation.
This, he said, would enable companies licensed in one country to operate in another without needing a new license and, as such, promote true integration.
The Secretary General also mentioned the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) developed by Afreximbank, which recognizes insurers as key stakeholders.
He invited the industry’s stakeholders to attend the AIO’s upcoming general assembly at the end of the month, which will focus on the debt burden in Africa and its impact on the insurance industry.
“The theme of our upcoming general assembly is particularly relevant to the Nigerian insurance market. “The debt burden in Africa is a pressing issue, and insurers must have a seat at the table where Africa’s future is being discussed, “he said.
Commenting on behalf of the Nigeria member companies, the NIA Chairman, Mr. Ahmed appreciated the AIO officials for the visit, noting that the move to increase the benefits of its members would promote the organization and grow its membership base.
Mr. Ahmed assured the AIO of the unrelenting support and collaboration of Nigerian insurers, while urging the AIO to support the Nigerian insurance market in its efforts to design a Mortality table, develop its Actuarial capacity and leverage on the opportunities in AfCTA.
Seplat Energy Committed To Leading Nigeria’s Indigenous Gas Revolution

Seplat Energy PLC, leading Nigerian independent energy Company listed on both the Nigerian Exchange and the London Stock Exchange, says it is committed to leading Nigeria’s indigenous gas revolution, with a strong belief in energy for all, powered by gas, guided by sustainability and driven by Nigerian expertise.

The Managing Director, Seplat Energy Producing Nigeria Unlimited (SEPNU), Mr. Oladotun Isiaka, gave this assurance at the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference  in Houston, United States whilst speaking on a panel session dubbed ‘Harnessing Nigeria’s Gas Potential for Domestic Utilization and Global Export Market’ organised by the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN).  

Isiaka also called for greater collaboration across the gas value chain to turn Nigeria’s gas potential into tangible prosperity.

According to him, Nigeria holds a strategic opportunity to leverage its gas reserves for domestic development and global competitiveness, and Seplat Energy is leading as a Nigerian independent, with strong operational and investment commitments in the domestic gas value chain.

He noted that indigenous leadership, backed by supportive policies and financing models, is critical to Nigeria’s gas sector growth.

On Seplat Energy’s contributions to Nigeria’s gas development, Isiaka said the Company is a leading supplier of processed gas to Nigeria’s domestic market – operating the Oben and Sapele Gas Processing Plant with combined capacity exceeding 300 MMscfd (supplying approximately 30 per cent of gas-fired power generation in-country).

Seplat Energy  is also developing the ANOH Gas Processing Plant – a 300 MMscfd facility expected to come online in 2025 under a joint venture owned equally by Seplat Energy and the Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd.

Also, the SEPNU offshore gas has huge potential to develop for both domestic and export markets, with significant reserves close to infrastructure.

Beyond the Company’s focus on promoting clean energy access, its investment in gas development supports Nigeria’s Decade of Gas strategy with investments in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for transport; Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for clean cooking; and electrification pilots in underserved communities.

The SEPNU MD said: “Nigeria has over 200 Tcf of proven gas reserves; among the top 10 globally. The country stands at an inflection point: use gas to power its population, industrialize, and capture global export value. Seplat Energy believes gas is not just a transition fuel — it is the growth engine for Nigeria’s energy future.

“Gas must displace biomass (used in cooking) and oil-based fuels like diesel (used in power generation sets), which are prevailing energy sources in Nigeria.”

Nigeria’s Biggest Tech Conference Opens in Enugu

Nigeria's Biggest Tech Conference Opens in Enugu – Tomorrow is Here!LarryBravo Nwaiwu
The 2025 Enugu Tech Festival being organised by the Enugu State Government kicked off on Wednesday with the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, describing it as the biggest technology conference that has ever happened in Nigeria.
Tijani said the Tech Festival, which attracted thousands of youths from within and outside the state, was a major leap for Nigeria’s determination to build a robust digital economy, noting that Enugu State under Governor Peter Mbah, had moved from policy to progress to lead the tech revolution in Nigeria.
This was even as Governor Peter Mbah urged the youths to embrace technology, insisting that the future is technology.
Speaking, the Minister said that the Tech Festival, tagged Coal to Code, fitted into the agenda and activities of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, having recognised that the future of digital economy in Nigeria would not only be built in Abuja, but would instead be co-created across all states.
“Enugu is showing how this should and will be done. I have never, never been to a conference on technology in Nigeria that is this big. I founded the first technology hub in Nigeria, the very first in Nigeria. So, I know a thing or two when technology people gather. I can assure you that today, you are part of history because we have never seen anything this big in Nigeria before.
“There is something powerful about your state: the energy, the ambition, the possibilities. Just two years ago, only a few people could imagine this kind of tech momentum. But today, Enugu has not just imagined, Enugu is building it. Under two years, we have seen investment in digital infrastructure, and the innovation ecosystem of the state.
“What is happening today in Enugu is part of something bigger. We are now witnessing a generational rise, not one where people complain and protest, but one where creativity is used to shape the future. Not just with passion, but with precision,” he stated.
While commending the participants for rising to “create the kind of Nigeria the world will pay attention to,” Tijani called for collaboration, commitment, and hard work by all stakeholders to make it happen.
“Progress is not automatic, but needs all of us. It needs the government to continue to be brave. It needs the private sector to invest deeper. It needs mentors, builders, teachers, and it needs leaders,” he concluded.
Speaking, Governor Mbah, while highlighting how his administration had invested in technology to dramatically revolutionise security, land administration, education, among others, noted that the Enugu Tech Festival was part of his government’s wider efforts to build the youth of the state into wealth creators and highly sought-after workforce of tomorrow’s workplace.
“The power of technology and innovation and what we can accomplish is something that I want the youths to be mindful of. If you look at the way things are being done in the world today, we are now talking about an era where people just sit down with great ideas, create platforms where they begin to essentially benefit from that platform.
“An example is the Uber that came and disrupted the city taxi without owning a key. Today, they provide by far the largest traffic just by creating a platform. You can extend that to Airbnb. Without owning a key, these guys have disrupted the business of those who own several brick and mortar houses. You can also extend that to Tesla. That is the power of technology. This shows essentially that technology is where the future is,” he emphasised.
In his remark, the Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Lawrence Ezeh, said the Enugu Tech Festival, which would now become an annual event, underscored a paradigm shift from the old Enugu known for coal to one that has become a rising force in Nigeria’s tech-driven future, a beacon of innovation, intellectual capital, digital enterprise, and endless possibilities.
“For decades, our identity was built on coal, a resource that powered Nigeria’s industrial rise. But today, we stand in a different kind of power—the power of knowledge, innovation, and technology,” he stated.
Also at the event were the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande; Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Uchenna Ugwu; former Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Barth Nnaji; Chairman of Zinox Technical, Leo Stan Ejeh;  and  the Group Managing Director, Afrinvest, Dr. Ike Chioke, among a host of others.
YSMA ,TMA Launch Historic Cultural Exchange To Boost Museum Expertise

 In a landmark move that sets a new precedent for international cultural collaboration, the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art (YSMA) in Nigeria and the Toledo Museum of Art (TMA) in the U.S. are proud to announce a transformative partnership aimed at promoting Modern and Contemporary African Art and enhancing institutional capacity through knowledge exchange.

Formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed in November 2024, the partnership will see both museums – nonprofit, educational institutions with a shared mission of service and impact through art – collaborate on a range of programs including a training and professional development exchange, joint curatorial initiatives, and traveling exhibitions from YSMA’s collection to the U.S.

This collaboration marks YSMA’s first major international partnership and is a bold step in amplifying its reach and influence on the global stage, particularly in deepening U.S.–Nigeria cultural relations through the lens of art and heritage. Recently named the 2025 Best Art Museum in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, TMA is an institution renowned for its history and reputation in museum management, curatorial excellence, and public engagement

Reflecting on the value of the joint initiative, Jess Castellote, Director of the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art, said: “This partnership is a major milestone in our journey to bring Nigerian art to a broader audience. At the YSMA, we believe in the transformative power of cultural exchange. By working with an esteemed institution like the TMA, we are not only building professional capacity but also affirming the place of African art in the global narrative of creativity, innovation, and heritage.”

The collaboration will also offer American audiences the opportunity to experience YSMA’s great collection, which spans centuries of African creativity and expression, ranging from ancient cultural artifacts to modern and contemporary works through travelling exhibitions.

Highlighting the significance of the collaboration, Adam Levine, Director and CEO of TMA said: “At the Toledo Museum of Art, we are proud to engage in a partnership that fosters mutual learning, inclusivity, and global dialogue. This collaboration with YSMA not only enriches our understanding of African art traditions but also deepens our ability to integrate art into the lives of people — both locally and globally. By working together, we strengthen the institutional ties and cultural connections that inspire, educate, and promote access to the transformative power of art.”

Both museums see this collaboration as a model for future cultural diplomacy efforts – one that uses art to bridge continents, enrich communities, and celebrate shared humanity. At a time when global understanding and cross- cultural dialogue are more important than ever, this partnership demonstrates how institutions with shared values can come together to advance mutual learning, preserve cultural heritage, and inspire new generations. By creating platforms for exchange – of ideas, art, and expertise – YSMA and TMA are laying the foundation for deeper, more sustained connections between Nigeria and the United States through the transformative power of art.