Get Guardian on GoogleHEIRS Insurance Group has won the Africa Sustainable Futures Award in the Critical Infrastructure (Non-Energy) category for using digital technology to expand insurance access and promote financial inclusion among underserved communities in Nigeria.
The Financial Times, in partnership with the World Bank Group’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), presented the award at the closing ceremony of the 2026 Africa Summit in London on October 22.
The recognition highlighted the growing role of digital technology in addressing barriers to insurance adoption, particularly in markets where large sections of the population remain outside the formal insurance system.
At the centre of the group’s initiative is Prince AI, which the company described as Nigeria’s first multilingual generative artificial intelligence insurance assistant. The platform uses AI and local-language capabilities to simplify insurance information and help users understand available protection products.
The initiative is supported by the group’s USSD platform, mobile application, digital distribution and bancassurance channels, which it said have helped extend insurance access to more than three million people.
The group also linked its digital expansion strategy to customer trust and service delivery, including its pledge to settle validated claims within 48 hours.
Speaking on the recognition, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Heirs Life Assurance, Niyi Onifade, said the award validated the company’s commitment to making insurance simple, accessible and reliable.
He said millions of Nigerians remained outside the formal insurance system, exposing them to financial uncertainty, and added that technology was helping the group address the gap.
Onifade said the combination of artificial intelligence, multilingual services and customer-focused distribution was helping bring financial protection closer to underserved populations without compromising service quality.
The Critical Infrastructure (Non-Energy) category recognised private-sector initiatives that strengthened essential infrastructure and improved livelihoods through sustainable and scalable solutions.
The award also highlighted the potential of digital financial services to support economic resilience by widening access to risk protection for individuals, households and businesses.
