Consolidated Hallmark Holdings bets on education to shape insurance’s future

Consolidated Hallmark Holdings is ramping up investment in education as part of a broader strategy to build capacity, deepen expertise, and position Nigeria’s insurance industry for long-term growth.

The move through its Annual Essay Competition signals a shift beyond traditional underwriting, with the firm focusing on talent development and knowledge transfer as critical drivers of innovation, risk management, and market expansion.

Consolidated Hallmark Holdings Plc in line with its commitment to education, industry development and thought leadership, has announced the 13th edition of its Annual Essay Competition, an initiative that has grown into one of Nigeria’s respected academic platforms for advancing insurance education.

Since its launch in 2011, the financial services group has invested over N40 million in the educational sector through the competition, rewarding outstanding essays from tertiary institution students and staff members across the group. Beyond the cash prizes, the initiative has helped stimulate intellectual engagement, encourage critical thinking and deepen awareness of the role of insurance in economic development.

The 2026 edition introduces two categories designed to promote both internal reflection and broader industry dialogue.

The Internal Category, open to employees across the group, is themed “Re-enacting CHH Corporate Culture and Brand Identity: Why It Really Matters.” The topic encourages staff to reflect on the organisation’s culture and values, and how these translate into daily actions, professional conduct and customer experience.

The External Category, open to tertiary institutions offering insurance-related programmes across Nigeria, focuses on the topic “Economic Hardship: Effect on Disposable Income and Demand for Insurance.” Students are expected to examine how economic pressures influence household spending and insurance uptake, while proposing practical ideas that could strengthen financial protection for Nigerians.

Speaking at the pre-award press conference, Eddie Efekoha, group chief executive officer of said the competition is designed to inspire ideas that can shape the future of the insurance industry.

“Economic hardship is not merely a statistic; it is lived reality in homes across Nigeria. Yet within constraint lies creativity. We are challenging our brightest Insurance and Actuarial Science students to move beyond describing the problem and provide bold, evidence-based thinking that charts realistic pathways toward wider insurance adoption and stronger household security.”

Efekoha added that the competition goes beyond academic recognition, describing it as “seed capital for ideas” capable of influencing industry thinking and innovation.

Also speaking, Mary Adeyanju, managing director of Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Limited, emphasised that the initiative reflects the group’s long-term strategy of nurturing talent and strengthening the intellectual foundation of the insurance sector.

“Sustainable growth in insurance requires ideas, research and professionals who understand the realities of our market. Through this competition, we are bridging the gap between the classroom and the industry while encouraging solutions that strengthen trust and accessibility in insurance.”

To reward excellence, the national winners will receive N1,000,000 for first price; first runner-up – N750,000 and second runner-up N500,000.

Consolidated Hallmark Holdings Plc is a non-operating holding company focused on managing a portfolio of strategic investments across Nigeria’s financial services sector. Listed on the trading floor of the Nigerian Exchange Group in November 2023, the Group provides insurance, life assurance, healthcare, and financial solutions through its subsidiaries: Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Limited, CHI Life Assurance Limited, Hallmark Finance Company Limited, and Hallmark Health Services Limited. Together, these companies serve individuals, SMEs, and corporates with risk protection, health management, and financing solutions that support financial security and economic growth.