NAICOM Hails Continental Re for 2025 CEO Roundtable on Insurance Recapitalisation

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has praised Continental Reinsurance Plc for hosting the 2025 CEO Roundtable, describing the forum themed “Recapitalization & Beyond: Rethinking Risk, Capacity and Collaboration for a Resilient Insurance Sector” as timely and critical to transforming the Nigerian insurance industry.

The high-level event, held in Lagos, brought together chief executives of major insurance companies across the country to deliberate on the future of the sector amid the ongoing recapitalisation exercise.

Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, the Deputy Commissioner (Technical), Dr. Usman Jankara, said recapitalisation would reposition Nigerian insurers for stronger competitiveness, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

According to him, recapitalisation is the bedrock for sustainable growth, as it will strengthen solvency, enhance underwriting capacity, enable insurers to retain more risks locally, build investor confidence, attract capital, stimulate mergers and acquisitions, and drive regional expansion.

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Jankara noted that Continental Re’s initiative aligns with NAICOM’s reform agenda, which prioritises improved capacity, stronger financial resilience and innovation across the sector.

Reiterating the new minimum capital requirements—₦10bn for life insurers, ₦15bn for non-life companies, and ₦35bn for reinsurers—he stressed that the thresholds were designed to build institutions capable of underwriting large transactions and competing across African markets.

In his lead presentation, the Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr. Bismark Rewane, described recapitalisation as a transformative lever for driving economic growth, strengthening climate resilience, boosting capital market development, and improving claims-paying capacity. He added that it would enable underwriting of complex risks, promote consolidation, enhance investor confidence and support innovation and technology adoption.

Managing Director of Continental Reinsurance Plc, Dr. Fatai Lawal, said the theme of the roundtable captures both the challenges and opportunities ahead for the industry. He noted that the forum was convened to help industry leaders assess progress, exchange insights and develop strategies for building a stronger, more resilient sector.

NAICOM Hails Continental Re for 2025 CEO Roundtable on Insurance Recapitalisation

Continental Reinsurance Commissions ₦70m ICT Lab to drive digital learning at CIFM

Continental Reinsurance has reaffirmed its leadership role in advancing digital transformation and human capital development within Africa’s insurance industry through the inauguration of a ₦70 million ICT facility at the College of Insurance and Financial Management (CIFM) in Lagos.

The new “M.H. Koguna IT Lab”, named in honour of the company’s first Chairman, was conceived in December 2024 by Group Managing Director, Mr. Lawrence Nazare, and completed under the leadership of Managing Director, Dr. F.K. Lawal. The project reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to promoting technology-driven learning and building capacity among future insurance professionals.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony held on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Dr. Lawal said the initiative aligns with Continental Reinsurance’s vision to enhance the digital readiness of Nigeria’s insurance sector. He noted that the facility would provide students and practitioners with hands-on exposure to modern ICT tools critical to the industry’s evolution.

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The event drew key figures from the insurance community, including Executive Director, Mr. Emeka Akwiwu; Regional Director (Lagos), Mr. Ogadi Onwuaduegbo; President of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Mrs. Yetunde Ilori; and Chairman of the CIFM Board, Mr. Jide Orimolade.

In her remarks, Mrs. Ilori commended Continental Reinsurance for its sustained investment in professional development, describing the ICT lab as “a timely contribution that will bridge the digital skills gap in the industry.”

Mr. Orimolade also lauded the project as a model for corporate–academic collaboration, emphasizing that the lab would help reposition the college as a centre of excellence in insurance and financial management training.

With the M.H. Koguna IT Lab, Continental Reinsurance continues to set the pace in corporate social responsibility, education support, and digital empowerment — reinforcing its vision of a smarter, more innovative African insurance landscape.

Continental Reinsurance Commissions ₦70m ICT Lab to drive digital learning at CIFM

Regency Alliance posts strong 2024 earnings, eyes N15bn capital raise

Regency Alliance Insurance Plc has reported a solid financial performance for the 2024 financial year, with total assets rising by 15.96 per cent to ₦21.86 billion, up from ₦18.85 billion in 2023.

The company’s Chairman, Mr. Clem Baiye, disclosed this while presenting the 2024 financial results at its 31st Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Thursday.
He attributed the growth to the insurer’s disciplined investment strategy, prudent risk management, and sustained operational resilience amid a volatile economic climate.

L-R: Non-Executive Director, Regency Alliance Insurance Plc, Dr. Sammy Olaniyi; Company Secretary, Mrs. Anu Shobo; Chairman, Mr. Clem Baiye; and Managing Director, Mr. Bode Oseni, at the company’s 31st annual General Meeting in Lagos on Thursday

According to Baiye, shareholders’ funds also recorded a healthy increase of 19.24 per cent, reaching ₦13.97 billion in 2024 compared to ₦11.72 billion in the previous year.
The equity attributable to the company likewise rose to ₦14.04 billion from ₦11.78 billion.

Regency Alliance’s insurance revenue climbed 20.03 per cent to ₦7.30 billion, reflecting improved underwriting performance and business expansion.

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However, insurance service expenses — which include claims and other technical costs — rose by 46.37 per cent to ₦4.12 billion, up from ₦2.81 billion in 2023.

Despite higher operating costs, Baiye noted that management expenses increased only modestly by 7.66 per cent, underscoring the firm’s commitment to cost discipline.

The company’s investment income also improved to ₦1.17 billion, compared with ₦923 million in the previous year. A fair value gain of ₦170 million was also recorded from the revaluation of investment property.

These gains lifted Regency Alliance’s profit before tax by 19.49 per cent to ₦2.50 billion, while profit after tax grew by 16.73 per cent to ₦2.25 billion, compared to ₦1.93 billion in 2023.

To reward shareholders, the board approved a bonus issue of one new ordinary share for every three held, while also unveiling plans to undertake a rights issue and private placement to raise the required ₦15 billion minimum capital under the new Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025.

The Managing Director, Mr. Bode Oseni, assured shareholders that the new shares would be allotted and listed on the Nigerian Exchange upon completion of the capital raising exercise.

“The board is convinced that our company has the potential to become a leading force in the non-life insurance space,” Oseni stated.

Regency Alliance posts strong 2024 earnings, eyes N15bn capital raise