Insurance Meets Tech (IMT) has unveiled its inaugural “10 To Watch Insurance Innovators” ranking, recognising Nigerian insurance companies leading the industry’s digital transformation through technology-driven innovation and improved customer access.
The ranking, developed by Creato Urban, assessed insurers using two equally weighted criteria: digital transformation depth, which measures the sophistication of technology infrastructure and automation, and market impact, which evaluates how digital innovations improve accessibility and reach for policyholders.
Heirs Insurance Group emerged as the overall leader with a combined score of 89/100, earning praise for its digital insurance experience centre, AI-powered customer services, automated claims processing, and expansion of insurance access to more than three million Nigerians since 2021.
Leadway Assurance ranked second with 85/100, recognised for its enterprise-wide digital transformation strategy, AI-powered claims verification, and innovative products such as pay-as-you-go motor insurance. SanlamAllianz Nigeria placed third with 84/100, driven by its nationwide digital agent platform and same-day USSD-enabled claims service.
The remaining companies in the top 10 are Cornerstone Insurance Plc, CubeCover, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, Rex Insurance Limited, Enterprise Life Assurance Company Nigeria, Noor Takaful, and Zenith General Insurance Company Limited.
IMT also presented its inaugural “Most Promising Innovation Yet” recognition to emPLE for its cloud-based Data Lake platform, which aims to unify customer data across insurance operations and enable AI-powered underwriting, fraud detection, and embedded insurance services once deployed.
Speaking on the rankings, IMT Convener and Creato Urban Founder/CEO Odion Aleobua said the recognition reflects the Nigerian insurance industry’s gradual shift towards full digitalisation in line with regulatory expectations.
“This list indicates that the transformation of the Nigerian insurance industry is incrementally aligning with the growing demand for complete digitalisation of insurance services as required by NAICOM. The companies featured are taking the initiative rather than waiting for the industry to evolve,” Aleobua said.
The “10 To Watch” framework was developed by IMT’s editorial and advisory team to recognise insurers advancing technology adoption while expanding access to insurance across Nigeria. The announcement comes ahead of the fifth edition of Insurance Meets Tech, scheduled for September 18, 2026, at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
