Preparations for the 2026 Almond Insurance Industry Awards have intensified with the organisers unveiling Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Hajiya Queensley Sofuratu Seghosime, Chidi Onyeukwu Ajaegbu and Prof. Jacinta Opara among the guest presenters for the yearly event.
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The awards, organised by Almond Productions Limited, are scheduled to hold on Friday, November 6, 2026, at the Stable Event Centre, Bode Thomas, Surulere, Lagos.
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According to a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer of Almond Productions Limited, Kesiena Faith Ughwode, the guest presenters were selected from different sectors of the economy to underscore the importance of insurance and broaden public understanding of the industry’s role in economic development.
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Among those unveiled is Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, while Seghosime, described by the organisers as the 62nd President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), is also expected to present awards.
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Others include Ajaegbu, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Capital Markets Limited, and Opara, Vice Chancellor of Dominican University, alongside other personalities expected at the ceremony.
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The organisers said the choice of presenters reflected the need to promote greater understanding of insurance among stakeholders beyond the industry’s traditional circle, noting that risk transfer remains an important component of economic activity.
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The Almond Insurance Industry Awards, which commenced in 2018, is designed to recognise individuals and organisations regarded by the organisers as change-makers and innovators within the Nigerian insurance ecosystem.
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This year’s voting categories include Insurance CEO of the Year, Insurance Woman of the Year (Insurer or Broker), Life Insurance Company of the Year, General Insurance Company of the Year, Insurance Broker of the Year, Insurance Broking Company of the Year, Takaful Company of the Year, Micro Insurance Company of the Year and Most Valuable Insurance Customer of the Year.
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The non-voting categories are Insurance Life Achievers Award (Insurer or Broker) and Special Recognition Award 2026, which is open to personalities within and outside the insurance industry.
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The organisers also announced insurance professional and industry figure, Ope Oredugba, as the recipient of the 2026 Insurance Lifetime Achievement Award.
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According to Almond Productions, the award is in recognition of Oredugba’s contributions to the development of the Nigerian insurance industry and initiatives he pioneered during his career which, it said, continue to add value to insurance operations.
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The statement added that the award was intended to recognise his contribution to the growth and development of the sector.
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The event will begin with a red-carpet session at 4:00 p.m., while the awards ceremony is scheduled to commence at 7:00 p.m.
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The organisers said the ceremony would also feature performances by Nigerian music and comedy acts.
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The event is designated as a strictly black-tie occasion and attendance is by ticket admission.