The Africa Bancassurance Storytellers Forum Conference and Film Showcase 2026 is set to bring a fresh narrative to Africa’s insurance industry as stakeholders prepare to gather in Lagos for a unique blend of dialogue, film, and industry engagement.
Scheduled for May 23, 2026, at Radisson Blu Hotel Ikeja, the event will centre on the theme, “From Tales to Trust: Reimagining Africa’s Insurance Story,” a concept designed to reposition insurance through the lens of storytelling and human experience.
Speaking ahead of the conference, Chima Nwachukwu, convener of the ABSF, said the initiative is a deliberate attempt to address one of the industry’s long-standing challenges of public perception. He noted that while insurance has inherent value, its adoption across many African markets has been constrained by a lack of relatable narratives that connect with everyday realities.
“In many African homes, stories are not told for entertainment alone; they serve as bridges between ignorance and understanding. Insurance in Africa has long suffered not from lack of value, but from lack of story,” he said.
According to him, the forum is designed to move insurance away from abstract concepts and reposition it as a lived experience that resonates with individuals and communities. He added that through storytelling, film, and open dialogue, the platform seeks to give the industry a more authentic and accessible voice.
Participants attending the event are expected to experience more than a conventional conference format.The gathering will feature the unveiling of what is described as Africa’s first insurance-themed storytelling film experience, where themes such as risk, protection, relationships, and everyday life are explored through relatable narratives.
Beyond the film showcase, the programme will host in-depth conversations aligned with the event’s central theme, alongside discussions involving regulators, innovators, and practitioners working to shape the future of insurance across the continent. Networking sessions and an award segment recognising individuals who have contributed significantly to the growth of the industry in Africa are also part of the agenda.
The conference will bring together a broad mix of industry leaders and stakeholders across Nigeria’s insurance ecosystem, alongside representatives from the broader African market, reflecting the industry’s growing emphasis on collaboration and shared growth.
Leading the event as conference chairman is Rotimi Olukorede, managing director and chief executive officer of Floodgate Insurance Brokers Limited. He will be joined by Ekeoma Ezeibe, president of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, who will attend as special guest of honour.
Delivering the keynote address is Shina Gbadegesin, managing director of GOXI Microinsurance Company Limited, while other prominent figures expected at the conference include Bola Odukale, director-general of the Nigerian Insurers Association, and Kunle Ahmed, chairman of the same body.
Other distinguished industry leaders are Yetunde Ilori, president of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria; Patrick Loweh, president of the African Association of Young Insurance Professionals; Joyce Odiachi, acting managing director of International Energy Insurance; and Abimbola Tiamiyu, registrar of the CIIN.
The list also extends to Jeff Duru, managing director of Universal Insurance Plc, as well as Chizoba Perpetua Ehiogu, rector of the College of Insurance and Financial Management.
Beyond Nigeria, the conference will also draw virtual participation from leading voices across the continent, underscoring its pan-African outlook. These include Abiba Zakariah, commissioner for insurance in Ghana; Patty Martin-Karuaihe, managing director and chief executive officer of Namib Reinsurance; Rose Wanda of the Organisation of East and Southern Africa Insurers; and Getachew Beshahwred, a Chartered Insurance Institute ambassador to Ethiopia.
The breadth of participation highlights a deliberate effort to deepen cross-border engagement, facilitate knowledge exchange, and strengthen ties within Africa’s insurance industry as it navigates evolving risks and emerging opportunities.
Nwachukwu emphasised that the forum should be seen as more than a one-off gathering, describing it as the beginning of a broader movement aimed at reshaping how insurance is perceived across the continent.
“I see this not as an event, but as a seed. ABSF is planting a new narrative, one where insurance is no longer feared, ignored, or misunderstood, but embraced as a trusted companion in life’s journey,” he said.
