Nigeria’s insurance industry, despite historically low penetration compared with banking and fintech, has continued to expand in recent years.
According to Nairametrics, Nigeria’s insurance companies held total assets of about N4.6 trillion by mid-2025, a sign of rising investments and stronger balance sheets across the industry.
At the same time, gross premium generation has continued to climb, with insurers recording N769.2 billion in premiums in the first quarter of 2025 alone, one of the strongest quarterly performances on record.
This shows that while insurance still lags behind other financial sectors in scale, its growth trajectory is steadily improving.
Within this evolving landscape, some women are increasingly shaping the direction of the industry.
From executive leadership, underwriting and actuarial services to risk management, female professionals are gaining influence in a sector.
In celebration of International Women’s Day, here are the influential female C-suite executives in Nigeria’s insurance industry.
Here are the women leading the Nigerian insurance sector
Nomwen Emeghalu leads Fortis Global Insurance Plc as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, a role she assumed on August 27, 2025.
Emeghalu began her career in 1994, gaining foundational experience in operations, marketing, and corporate management.
Over the years, she has held leadership positions, including Deputy General Manager of Corporate Marketing at Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Senior Manager roles at AIICO Insurance Plc and Admiral Insurance Ltd, and Managing Director at UTIB Insurance Broker, before taking the helm at Fortis Global Insurance.
Emeghalu holds a Bachelor of Education, an MBA, and completed the Advanced Management Programme (AMP 25) at the Lagos Business School, equipping her with both strategic and operational expertise to drive growth and innovation in the Nigerian insurance sector.
She is a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria and the Risk Managers Society of Nigeria.
