As the insurance industry pivots toward digital innovation, the upcoming Insurance Meets Tech (IMT) 4.0 conference has secured heavyweights like SanlamAllianz as Official Insurer and Cornerstone Insurance as Innovation Partner, signaling a renewed push for tech-led transformation in Nigerian insurance.
IMT 4.0, now in its fourth edition, continues to unite insurers, regulators, and tech firms to redefine the role of insurance in the digital era. This year’s theme, “Innovating for the New Trybe,” highlights the growing influence of Millennials and Gen Z—digital natives demanding convenience, transparency, and relevance.
Sponsors include Leadway Assurance, Enterprise Life, Cube Cover, and emPLE as Gold Supporters; Lasaco Assurance joins as a Bronze sponsor. Institutional allies such as the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) and Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) have also confirmed their participation.
Driving Factor: Regulatory and Cultural Shifts
The conference builds on major regulatory thrusts, notably the new Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025 and the NAICOM InsurTech Guidelines, both designed to spur innovation, consumer protection, and digital transformation. IMT 4.0 includes dialogues on how industry modernization can foster wider inclusion and trust.
One standout feature—IMT Redefined—blends culture, lifestyle, and Afrobeats to reframe insurance as a protective, empowering force for everyday aspirations. This creative recontextualization recognizes that winning youth engagement means bridging innovation with cultural relevance.
What This Matters
IMT 4.0 serves as both a symbol and a catalyst. It signifies a growing recognition that insurance is not just a finance product but a digital-first service tailored to modern lifestyles. With major insurers and regulators involved, the conference could spur new partnerships, startups, and inclusive insurance models.
As the financial inclusion agenda evolves, solving the trust and relevance deficit in Nigeria’s insurance industry may require more events like IMT—ones that blend tech, policy, and storytelling.
Talking Points
People often forget: trust is the currency of the digital economy. From ride-hailing apps to health tech startups, users only adopt solutions when they feel protected against risks.
Strong insurance is therefore not just about premiums and policies—it’s about building the confidence that allows Africa’s tech ecosystem to scale.
With companies like SanlamAllianz entering the space, there’s always a concern: will Africa get fair partnerships or just imported models that don’t fit local realities? Insurance in Nigeria cannot look like insurance in Germany or South Africa.
Products must be built with grassroots realities in mind—informal workers, microbusinesses, farmers, and even gig workers in the digital economy.
African startups often fail not only because of funding shortages but because risks are uninsured. One fire, one lawsuit, or one unforeseen event can collapse a young company. If insurance firms collaborate with incubators and accelerators, they could help de-risk startups, making them more investable. That’s a conversation that should be louder at these conferences.
