E-Financial
Insurance Professionals Urge Operators to Embrace Digitisation

The Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria has urged insurance operators to evolve, embrace change and digitise their processes to enable them to meet customers’ needs and expectations.
This was part of the communiqué issued at the end of its 2021 Insurance Professionals Forum in Abeokuta, Ogun State, with the theme ‘The insurance industry in the digital age’.
The professionals urged the regulator to encourage, support and facilitate the digitalisation change in the insurance industry and provide guidance for other stakeholders.
They said, “There is a need for data analytics to promote digitisation; there is an urgent need for the adoption of digital sales agents.
“There is a need to promote ethical standards within the industry so as to earn public trust in services provided by operators; and to take advantage of the existing payment system in Nigeria with a view to promoting multiple premium payment methods such as USSD and mobile app.”
The CIIN highlighted the need for professionals to secure the insurance industry space with digitalisation.
It recognised the need for professionals to learn and acquire new soft skills required to achieve digital operations.
The institute stressed the need to assess or evaluate the impact of digitisation on the operations of the insurance industry and take collaborative efforts to manage the risks exposures
Speaking at the conference, the Commissioner for Insurance, Mr Sunday Thomas, said, “The insurance industry is currently lagging behind and needs to reassess its business model, re-evaluate its strategy and make the digital agenda a high priority.
“If this is not done, it will be difficult to deliver on customers’ expectations and new entrants, insurtech companies and leading digital competitors, will take advantage of this weakness. It is time for insurers to evolve and do the needful.”
He said this would require a different set of skills, culture and operating model.
According to him, the only explorable option for the industry is to maximise its positioning in the digital age as waiting is not an option.
He said that an insurance company in Columbus, Ohio, US, had embraced the use of AI, cloud computing, machine learning to enable everyone with smartphone get a motor rate based primarily on their driving behaviour, rather than relying on historically based demographic data to determine rates.
Thomas said, “The commission is desirous of a fully digitised industry. More so, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption and the use of digital technologies in the Nigerian insurance sector.
“To this extent, on September 1, 2021, the NAICOM Portal was successfully launched. In order to ensure effective and efficient utilisation of the portal, the commission directed all operators to integrate, connect and upload five years historical data of all policies issued from January 1, 2016 to NAICOM Portal on or before March 1, 2021.”
E-Financial
SEC Alerts Public on Silverkuun, Trending Dubious Investment Schemes

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has warned the public against investing in unregistered investment schemes, including Silverkuun Investment Cooperative Society/Silverkuun Limited.
In a circular issued in Abuja, yesterday, the commission said its attention had been drawn to the activities of these entities, which falsely present themselves as investment advisers and fund managers in the Nigerian capital market.
“The attention of the Securities and Exchange Commission has been drawn to the activities of Silverkuun Investment Cooperative Society/Silverkuun Limited which holds itself out as an Investment Adviser/Fund Manager.
“The Commission hereby informs the public that Silverkuun Investment Cooperative Society/Silverkuun Limited is not registered to operate in any capacity in the Nigerian Capital Market.”
SEC advised the public to refrain from engaging with Silverkuun Investment Cooperative Society/Silverkuun Limited or its representatives in respect of any business in the Nigerian capital market.
“The Commission uses this medium to reiterate that transacting in the Nigerian Capital Market with unregistered and unregulated entities exposes investors to financial risk including fraud and potential loss of investment.
“The investing public is therefore reminded to verify the status of companies and entities offering investment opportunities on the Commission’s portal before transacting with them,” the SEC added.
Dr. Emomotimi Agama, director-general of the SEC, recently warned that the Commission would not hesitate to shut down the operations of such unregistered entities while also ensuring that the promoters are made to face the full weight of the law.
Agama said, “we will shut down their operations and the promoters will be made to face the full weight of the law.
“In a major reform, ISA 2025 officially brings digital assets under the SEC’s regulatory purview, defining them as securities and mandating registration for all virtual asset service providers (VASPs) and digital asset exchanges. This development aims to close the regulatory vacuum that has allowed many Ponzi-style platforms to thrive under the guise of cryptocurrency and digital finance.”
Agama also emphasized the Commission’s education-focused strategy to combat fraud through podcasts, digital campaigns, and the introduction of capital market literacy in schools and universities, the SEC aims to equip Nigerians with the knowledge to detect and avoid dubious investments.
E-Financial
Africa Cross-border Payments Set to Hit $1 trillion by 2035

Africa’s cross-border payments market is on track to hit $1 trillion by 2035, according to a new report by venture capital firm Oui Capital. Titled “Africa’s Cross-Border Payment Landscape—a deep dive into the systems, players, and shifts shaping Africa’s cross-border payment flows,” the report states that the market is currently valued at $329 billion and growing at a compound annual growth rate of 12%.
It identifies Africa’s booming digital adoption, increasing intra-African trade, and a surge in mobile money usage as the key growth drivers.
Despite the impressive growth, the report highlights systemic inefficiencies.
“Legacy rails, double currency conversions, and fragmented regulations still siphon billions in hidden costs,” Oui Capital states, noting that the continent continues to have the highest global remittance costs, averaging 7–8%.
However, digital innovation is helping reshape the landscape. Mobile money is now a key channel, with 30% of Sub-Saharan remittances flowing through mobile wallets.
In 2022, Africa accounted for 66% of global mobile money transaction value, demonstrating the rapid formalisation of what was once a predominantly informal cash ecosystem.
Oui Capital sees significant investment potential in addressing these inefficiencies. “Infrastructure plays—interoperable API layers, decentralised FX liquidity pools, and PAPSS integrations—represent $10 billion-plus opportunities,” the report says.
The Pan-African Payment and Settlement System is one such initiative pushing for local currency settlements and reduced reliance on USD/EUR clearing, which presently adds around $5 billion in annual costs.
According to the report, cryptocurrencies and Stablecoins are emerging as promising alternatives, cutting remittance costs by up to 60% in markets with clear regulations.
“Fintech APIs are already pushing fees as low as 1.5–3%,” the report notes.
Still, the venture capital firm warns that challenges persist as only 55% of African jurisdictions allow full electronic KYC, limiting the scalability of fintech solutions.
The report urges founders to go beyond peer-to-peer transfers by embedding services like lending and insurance.
“Africa’s payments race is now a scale game. Those that solve for liquidity, compliance and cost will define the continent’s digital trade backbone over the next decade,” it concludes.
E-Financial
SANEF, CIBN Partner to Expand Agency Banking Certification

Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria has expanded its Agency Banking Certification Programme through a tripartite collaboration between the Institute, FIC, and SANEF Limited.
This partnership according Prof. Pius Deji Olanrewaju, President/Chairman of Council the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN, is timely and strategic, “as we aim to broaden the reach of the certification across Nigeria’s agent banking sector. With SANEF’s deep integration in the financial inclusion ecosystem and established relationships with leading super agents, we are confident that this collaboration will strengthen the quality and visibility of the programme.
“The goal is clear, to enhance professionalism among agent bankers, support the national financial inclusion strategy, and contribute to building trust and integrity within this growing segment of the financial services sector. This collaboration presents an excellent opportunity for further implementation of the competency framework for the banking industry in Nigeria”.
He noted that the collaboration among others is part of his LEGACY agenda which highlights the multifaceted role of financial institutions in shaping Nigeria’s economic future.
The letter C in the LEGACY agenda refers to Competence in the banking and Finance industry, which is a very crucial factor in the banking and finance sector. Competent individuals in this industry are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively manage financial resources. Individuals with expertise in this field can contribute to the growth and stability of the economy.
Mrs. Uche Uzoebo, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Shared Agency Network Expansion Facilities, SANEF, described the memorandum of Understanding, MoU, as a visionary partnership that seeks to expand Financial Inclusion through Agent banking training, Financial Literacy and knowledge impartation, an objective that forms a key pivot of what SANEF represents.
“Over the years, SANEF, in strong collaboration with our key stakeholders, Banks and Licenced Super-Agents/Mobile Money Operators and other Financial Service Providers, have continued to deepen the frontiers of Financial Inclusion and agent bank. Financial Literacy and training have remained a key part of this objective.
“This MOU ceremony is a fulfillment of a shared vision through the expansion of Agent Banking, Financial Literacy, capacity building, thought leadership, training and competency.
She further explained that the agreement provides a training structure with well-curated and knowledge filled training modules and materials that will deepen the knowledge and capacity in agent banking.
“It will go ahead to deepen and expand the knowledge and capacity of all participants that will take part in this training and we believe that with the quality and cooperation of all parties present, this very important objective of impartation of knowledge and thought leadership, grooming and training minds to be empowered and learned and contributing our quota to nation building and be a better place,” she added.
- General News3 days ago
Uche Uzoebo, SANEF CEO Makes Case for More Financial Inclusion Strategies Targeting Women
- Broadcasting3 days ago
ACAMB Champions Bankers Wellness with Aerobics Fitness Session
- General News3 days ago
Hydrogen, Lagos State Touch Thousands of Business Owners with “Healthy Heart, Healthy Business” Outreach
- News3 days ago
UK Minister for Africa Visits Nigeria to Deepen Strategic Partnership
- E-Business3 days ago
Survey Reveals Marketing Leaders See Strong Potential in gTLDS Despite Knowledge Gap
- News13 hours ago
First Asset Management Receives 2024 Fund Manager Award
- General News13 hours ago
Nigeria Relaunches National Talent Export Programme to Unlock $1 Trillion Global Outsourcing Market
- News13 hours ago
SERAP Sues NNPC over Alleged Missing ₦500Bn, Seeks Accountability