How Leadway is leveraging tech, digital innovations to sustain market dominance

As Nigeria’s insurance industry accelerates toward the digitisation imperatives outlined under the Nigeria’s insurance industry evolves under the Nigeria Insurance Industry Reform Act 2025 (NIIRA), Leadway Assurance is moving decisively to align with this new direction. The insurer is deploying technology, digital infrastructure, and artificial intelligence to reshape how insurance is experienced, distributed, and trusted.

At the centre of this transformation is the company’s growing suite of digital-first solutions that remove friction from traditionally complex insurance processes.

In collaboration with Inspektlabs, Leadway deployed an AI-powered vehicle inspection capability that is redefining pre- and post-loss assessments. The solution enables customers to initiate and complete inspections remotely, receive near-instant reports, and accelerate the claims journey without the delays associated with manual processes.

This innovation sits within a broader digital claims transformation that is steadily driving how Leadway seamlessly fulfills its obligations to policyholders. Customers can now file claims online, track progress in real time, and get faster turnaround times thanks to improved internal workflows and automation.

Beyond claims, Leadway is extending its technology footprint through strategic collaborations that embed insurance directly into everyday digital ecosystems. A recent partnership with Paga, via its Doroki merchant platform, integrates insurance products into a widely used payments and business management system, allowing thousands of merchants to access tailored coverage seamlessly within their daily operations.

The collaboration reflects a broader shift toward embedded insurance, where financial protection is delivered within platforms already trusted by users. Through this model, merchants can access coverage for cash handling, assets, and operational risks, while also benefiting from simplified onboarding and claims processes that bring insurance closer to the realities of everyday business.

Speaking earlier on the development, Gboyega Lesi, managing director, Leadway Assurance, stated “As the industry evolves under the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act 2025, we remain well positioned to drive innovation, deepen insurance penetration, strengthen digital capabilities, and deliver sustainable long-term value to our customers and stakeholders.”

He added “Leadway would continue to prioritise technology-driven innovation, enhanced customer experience, operational efficiency, and product development initiatives aimed at expanding access to insurance solutions across Nigeria.”

Speaking on the transformation Odalo Aimufia, , the chief information officer, Leadway Assurance, noted that the company’s approach to innovation is anchored in practical impact and customer value.

“Technology, for us, is the foundation of how we are redesigning insurance for today’s digital-fluent customers,” he said. “From AI-driven inspection capabilities to the ongoing digitisation of claims and customer touchpoints, we are focused on building systems that reduce friction, improve turnaround times, and strengthen trust. Today, we are already delivering an insurance experience that is faster, smarter, and more aligned with the everyday needs of our customers.”

Leadway’s continued investment in technology comes at a time when the Nigerian insurance industry is undergoing significant change, with increasing emphasis on recapitalisation, innovation, and customer-centricity. By embedding digital capabilities across its operations and extending its reach through fintech platforms, the company is positioning itself not just to respond to these shifts, but to lead them.

The 2025 BAFI Awards to Leadway for Excellence in ‘Claims Leadership and Digital Innovation’ affirms this track record of strong market performance and a growing portfolio of digital initiatives.

Leadway is reinforcing its role as a forward-looking insurer, one that understands the future of insurance will be defined not only by coverage but also by the quality, speed, and intelligence of the experience it delivers.