Journalists have been urged to make insurance literacy a stronger part of their reporting to help Nigerians understand everyday risks and the financial protection available through insurance.
The call was made at the two day All Inclusive Mass Media Training for Journalists held in Lagos, with stakeholders examining the relationship between journalism, insurance awareness and financial resilience.
The training, organised by Insurance Publication Limited and sponsored by the African Reinsurance Corporation, Africa Re, was held from September 15 to 16, 2026, at Radisson Hotel, Lagos Ikeja.
The theme of the training was “The Universe of Insurance and Journalism: Risk Everywhere in Everything, Bridging Information Gaps and Financial Resilience.”
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Adepoju Tejumaiye of the University of Lagos urged journalists to move beyond conventional reporting of disasters and examine the financial risks created by such events.
Tejumaiye, who spoke on “Risk Everywhere in Everything: Bridging Information Gaps and Financial Resilience,” said the manner in which the media reports floods, fires, road crashes, health emergencies and other disasters could shape public understanding of insurance.
He said journalists should help Nigerians understand that disasters were not only humanitarian or social events but could also create significant financial losses for families, businesses and government.
According to him, effective journalism should enable citizens to identify their vulnerabilities, understand available preventive measures and appreciate insurance as one of the mechanisms for transferring financial risks.
Tejumaiye described insurance as an information and communication challenge as much as an actuarial product, noting that complicated terminology could discourage people from understanding or purchasing insurance.
He urged journalists to explain insurance products in simple language, particularly issues relating to coverage, exclusions, premiums, deductibles, indemnity, claims procedures and the obligations of policyholders.
The professor said media organisations could use news reports, features, documentaries, investigative journalism, radio and television programmes, opinion articles and human interest stories to deepen insurance awareness.
He also encouraged journalists to take insurance education to digital platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok and Threads, particularly to reach younger Nigerians and workers in the informal economy.
Tejumaiye said journalists should change from what he described as event framing to risk framing when reporting disasters.
He explained that a report about a fire destroying shops, for instance, should not end with the extent of the damage but could also examine whether the affected businesses were insured, what risk management measures existed and whether legitimate claims were settled.
He said such reporting would position journalists as risk interpreters who could connect everyday events with practical financial protection.
Tejumaiye identified surveillance, strategic framing and mobilisation as key responsibilities of the media in risk communication.
He said surveillance required journalists to identify emerging risks, while strategic framing involved explaining their causes, consequences and possible mitigation measures.
Mobilisation, he added, should include directing members of the public towards licensed insurance providers, regulators and appropriate channels for resolving complaints and claims disputes.
The professor also introduced what he described as an ABC approach to insurance communication, involving awareness, building trust and effective campaign channels.
He said awareness required journalists to translate technical insurance concepts into language that ordinary Nigerians could understand, while trust could be strengthened through accurate reporting of claims payments, regulatory action and unethical practices.
He further encouraged the use of podcasts, infographics, local radio programmes, drama and social media explainers to communicate insurance issues to underserved communities.
Speaking on healthcare, the President of the Healthcare Providers Association of Nigeria, Dr Augustine Aipoh, urged journalists to go beyond reporting government announcements and investigate the actual experiences of patients.
Aipoh, who spoke on “Beyond Awareness: The Journalist as a Catalyst for Better Healthcare Delivery in Nigeria,” said reporters should examine the entire patient journey, from policy formulation and enrolment to financing, accreditation, treatment, claims and outcomes.
He said journalists should ask whether Nigerians could afford health insurance, whether accredited healthcare facilities were available and whether insured patients actually received the services promised under their policies.
Aipoh also urged the media to investigate delays in payments to healthcare providers and how such delays affected patients and the quality of healthcare delivery.
He warned journalists against amplifying fake cures, unverified herbal remedies, misleading medical advertisements, vaccine misinformation and dangerous self medication practices.
He stressed the importance of verification before publication, noting that health misinformation could have serious consequences for individuals and communities.
In his presentation, “Legal Integrative Framework for a National Insurance Policy: How to Make Insurance Work for Individuals, Government and the Economy,” Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr Omogbai Omo Eboh, called for a broader government approach to insurance.
Omo Eboh said insurance should be viewed not only as a commercial product but also as a regulatory requirement and a strategic fiscal instrument for protecting public finances and strengthening economic resilience.
He advocated the integration of compulsory insurance verification into vehicle licensing, building approvals, import clearance, industrial licensing, public procurement and other government processes.
The SAN said vehicle licence renewal should include real time verification of compulsory motor third party insurance, while imported goods should be supported by appropriate marine cargo insurance issued in Nigeria.
He also proposed that building approvals and certificates of completion should incorporate relevant liability and public building insurance requirements.
Omo Eboh further suggested that workplace and industrial licensing processes should require evidence of compulsory employee insurance obligations where applicable.
He called for digital platforms that would enable government agencies to verify insurance policies before issuing licences, permits, approvals and other official documentation.
According to him, integrating insurance into government processes would make compliance easier while reducing manual fraud and administrative delays.
The legal expert also advocated affordable microinsurance products for traders, artisans, transport operators, tenants, farmers and low income households.
He urged insurance companies to improve claims settlement, customer service and transparency while simplifying policy documents to make them easier for consumers to understand.
Omo Eboh said government could also reduce its exposure to unexpected expenditure by adequately insuring public assets, infrastructure, public works and employees.
He advocated stronger public private partnerships and the development of compulsory insurance registers containing relevant information on vehicles, workplaces, buildings, cargo movement and sectoral risks.
The SAN further proposed a secure inter agency compliance platform involving institutions such as the National Insurance Commission, Federal Road Safety Corps and National Health Insurance Authority.
He said better data sharing and coordination would improve enforcement, strengthen national planning and provide government with more reliable information about the country’s risk exposure.
Omo Eboh identified public distrust, delayed claims, weak enforcement, complex insurance language, poverty, limited access and inadequate data as some of the challenges affecting insurance penetration.
The speakers consequently called for stronger collaboration among journalists, insurers, regulators, policymakers, academics, consumer groups, civil society organisations and professional bodies.
They said journalists should serve simultaneously as educators and watchdogs by explaining legitimate insurance products while investigating delayed claims, regulatory shortcomings, fraudulent practices and other issues affecting public confidence.
The training concluded that improving insurance penetration would require sustained public education and clearer communication about the practical value of insurance.
The stakeholders said the media had a strategic role in connecting insurance policies and regulatory frameworks with the everyday financial decisions of Nigerians.
They stressed that effective insurance journalism should help citizens understand the risks they face, the protection available to them and the responsibilities that come with purchasing insurance.