Internet lights up as Africa Re backed 2-Day Journalism Workshop kicks off

The Africa Reinsurance Corporation-backed workshop for Nigerian media has ignited intense debate on the internet as journalists prep up fireworks to confront the low awareness of insurance and risk in the country.

Already journalists listed for the event are asking how they can “practically use “risk and insurance” as a reporting lens on beats like climate change, politics, and cybercrime without making the stories sound like financial product ads”?

They also want to discover how, “with risk everywhere, in everything”, what 2-3 insurance/risk concepts do you think every journalist in 2026 should understand to make their reporting more credible and solutions-oriented?

Curiosity is also driving the enquiries on “how journalists can use “insurance thinking” to report insecurity, and economic hardship without just focusing on damage?

The highpoint of some of the questions directed to Professor Ismail Ibraheem of University of Lagos is;

“Professor, insurance cuts across virtually every aspect of society, yet it remains one of the least-understood sectors in Nigerian journalism. How can journalists move beyond reporting insurance as a product and begin to investigate it as a major risk-management and accountability issue?”

One of the questions Dr Omogbai Omo-Eboh, a leading maritime and insurance lawyer will be providing answers is “from a legal perspective, as investigative journalists expose risk in high-stakes industries like insurance and finance, they face increasing legal threats like SLAPP suits and defamation claims. How can media law and insurance frameworks evolve together to better protect journalists legally when reporting on systemic, high-risk corporate and governmental failures?

Coming at a time the insurance industry has concluded recapitalization guided by a new comprehensive new law, the multisectoral workshop is set to capitalize on the brand-new insurance industry financial standard to drive collaboration between the media and insurance.

Themed, “The Universe of Insurance and Journalism: Risk Everywhere, in Everything” the workshop continues IPL’s push for inclusivity, deconstructs siloed reporting and equips journalists from diverse backgrounds and beats, including education, health, transport, housing, agriculture and others, to integrate risk protection and financial resilience into everyday news coverage.

The program, sponsored by the Africa Re Foundation (ARF), will take place from September 15 to 16, 2026, to raise financial literacy among media practitioners and improve traditional coverage of insurance topics.

The convener of the All-Inclusive Mass Media Seminar for Journalists, Insurance Publication Ltd (IPL) identifies low public awareness as a major driver of poverty and a barrier to economic development and strongly believes that journalists as public opinion influencers are the best purveyors of awareness and mass financial literacy among larger populations. However, it noted that financial literacy on insurance is still low, while traditional coverage has largely confined insurance topics to specialized insurance and pensions desks.

“Through Africa Re’s support, we are continuing engagement with journalists this September. We are set to seize the moment and crystallise a broader insurance and risk awareness era in the country and elsewhere in Africa.” The program forms part of a broader multi-channel strategy,” the statement added.

Through the engagement, IPL aims to reach beyond insurance niche beats and major news desks and platforms, to normalise conversations around insurance, influence public behaviour, encourage greater uptake of insurance products, and support stronger risk-management policies at federal and state levels

.The event will feature opening remarks from the Lagos State Governor, His Excellency Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu; insights from the Commissioner for Insurance, Mr Olusegun Omosehin; and perspectives from the Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority, Dr Kelechi Ohiri.

Speakers will include Dr Femi Oyetunji, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SanlamAllianz Life Insurance Nigeria Ltd, who will address “Nigeria’s Insurance Gap: The Risks We Carry, the Protection We Ignore and the Economic Opportunities We Are Missing, Why Should Journalists Care?”

Other speakers include Prof. Ismail Ibraheem (Theme Speaker), Professor of Journalism and Communications Studies at the University of Lagos, who will speak on what “Risk Everywhere, in Everything” really means for journalists. Dr Omogbai Omo-Eboh (Lead Speaker) and Augustine Aipoh will address how much risk Nigerians are carrying without protection.

Key elements of the overall initiative include beat-specific training, an interactive digital learning platform, journalist toolkits for field reporting, and a monitoring framework. Implementation is being advanced in partnership with stakeholders such as the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).

IPL expects measurable increases in public engagement with insurance topics, more policy discussions on risk management, and, over time, improved national insurance uptake. The media-driven model is designed to scale and sustain across Africa.

About the Convener: Insurance Publication Ltd (IPL): Insurance Publication Ltd works to expand the scope of risk and insurance journalism in Nigeria and beyond, promoting inclusive reporting that reaches broader populations and supports economic resilience.

The program sponsor, Africa Re Foundation is, wholly, the CSR handle of African Reinsurance Corporation through which the reinsurer contributes to the development and growth of the insurance market and the industry in Africa.

The Foundation’s footprints are visible in the various sectors of its activities; risk awareness, insurance industry, health and Education.

It is also active in disaster recovery, technology development, and research including community development.

The parent company, Africa Reinsurance Corporation, attained various milestones this year, celebrating its golden jubilee and at the same time reaching the billion-dollar mark in premiums.

Dear Vows