The Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) is turning its 2026 Insurance Week into a structured push for early financial literacy, with a renewed focus on introducing insurance concepts to children and young people as part of efforts to reshape long-term understanding of the sector in Nigeria.
The annual programme, scheduled to hold from May 18 to May 22, 2026, forms part of the institute’s broader strategy to deepen insurance awareness, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and improve collaboration within the industry.
Speaking ahead of the event, Yetunde Ilori, president and chairman of the CIIN Governing Council, described Insurance Week as a deliberate platform for building public understanding of insurance, with a particular emphasis on embedding knowledge from an early age.
She said the 2026 edition, themed “Insurance: A Future Redefined,” is designed to go beyond industry conversations and position insurance as a basic life education tool that can be introduced at the foundational level of learning.
According to her, the initiative builds on the maiden edition held in 2025, which was simultaneously staged in Lagos, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, and Kano. This year, she said, the programme will expand further to Ekiti, Abuja, Ondo, Owerri, and Abeokuta, reflecting what she described as a growing need to take insurance education closer to communities and classrooms across the country.
Ilori explained that a key part of the 2026 focus is correcting long-standing misconceptions about insurance by engaging younger audiences who are still shaping their financial habits and understanding of risk protection.
She noted that positioning insurance education within schools and among emerging professionals is central to changing perceptions that have historically limited participation in the sector.
“We want insurance to be better understood as a key driver of financial stability and economic growth. These misconceptions cannot be corrected within offices alone; they must be taken to the public space,” she said.
A major highlight of the programme is the introduction of two insurance education books targeted at elementary school pupils, a move CIIN says is aimed at embedding basic insurance knowledge into early learning curricula and improving financial literacy from a young age.
Other planned activities for the week-long event include a wellness and awareness walk, panel discussions featuring participants outside the insurance industry, and interactive sessions with schools and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
There will also be a demo day for a hackathon focused on developing innovative solutions within the insurance space, alongside recognition awards for individuals and corporate organisations, and the appointment of industry ambassadors to promote insurance awareness.
Ilori also pointed to progress recorded during the 2025 edition, noting improvements in participation levels, stronger collaboration among stakeholders, and increased public awareness of insurance-related issues.
She added that the 2026 edition will further strengthen inclusivity through the active involvement of all CIIN chapters nationwide, aimed at widening reach and deepening impact across different regions.
