‎The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and veteran insurance professional, Opeoluwa Emmanuel Oredugba, will be honoured at the 2026 Almond Insurance Industry Awards and Consumers’ Nite scheduled for November 6 in Lagos.
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While Oredugba will receive the Insurance Life Achievers Award for his contributions to the development of the Nigerian insurance industry spanning more than four decades, the NHIA will receive the Special Recognition Award for its efforts to expand health insurance coverage and improve access to healthcare financing.
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The awards ceremony, organised by Almond Productions Limited, will hold at the Stable Event Centre, Surulere, Lagos, with industry stakeholders, policymakers and other dignitaries expected to attend.
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According to the organisers, the recognition of Oredugba is in acknowledgment of his contributions to the growth of the insurance sector in Nigeria and the wider West African region, particularly his role in introducing Takaful, or Islamic insurance, to the Nigerian market in 2002.
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The NHIA, on its part, is being recognised for reforms and interventions under its current leadership, which the organisers said had contributed to expanding health insurance coverage, reaching more than 20 million Nigerians within the last two years.
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In a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer of Almond Productions Limited, Faith Ughwode, the organisers said the awards remained committed to celebrating individuals and institutions whose contributions were advancing insurance development and improving service delivery.
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Established in 2018, the annual awards recognise professionals across different segments of the insurance industry, including insurers, brokers and other stakeholders working to promote insurance awareness and expand the market.
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The organisers noted that despite persistent low insurance awareness and penetration in Nigeria, industry players were making efforts to increase public appreciation of the benefits of insurance through health, life, agricultural, annuity and general insurance products.
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They said the NHIA leadership had demonstrated commitment to expanding access to health insurance, strengthening healthcare financing and providing more Nigerians with financial protection against healthcare costs.
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The recognition comes amid continuing efforts by stakeholders to improve insurance penetration and broaden access to insurance products, particularly among Nigerians who remain outside formal insurance arrangements.
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The 2026 edition, tagged Reemergence, will feature performances by musicians and comedians, including Reminisce, popularly known as Alaga Ibile, and Marvellous Benjy. Other performers expected at the event are MC Asoro, Laugh Doctor and Sambadecomedian.
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Steve Onu, popularly known as Yaw Naija, will host the ceremony.
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Expected guest presenters include Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Bomarah Group, Hajia Bola Muse, ICAN President Queensley Sofuratu Seghosime, and Professor Jacinta Opara, Vice-Chancellor of Dominican University, among other dignitaries.
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Other award categories include Insurance CEO of the Year, Insurance Woman of the Year, 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 organisers said voting would determine winners in the competitive categories, while the Insurance Life Achievers Award and Special Recognition Award would be conferred outside the voting process.
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They added that the unprecedented number of votes recorded in this year’s edition reflected the awards’ growing popularity and acceptance among industry stakeholders