General News
Churches and Mosques: Good Revenue Base for Insurance Companies
Nigeria is one of the most religious nations in the world. While opportunities exist for insurance companies under virtually every segment of livelihood including religion, our local insurers are yet to grab the waiting premiums lying fallow in our churches and mosques. The nooks and crannies of the country are dotted with churches and mosques, yet most of these buildings are not in any way covered by insurance. There are companies offering insurance for places of worship, but the terminology of the policy document and the finer details of policies may be hard to decipher. Many religious buildings are old or of historical importance to their locality, having supported communities for generations. Today, religious buildings still provide invaluable services for their congregations, both in ordinary life and for ceremonies, such as weddings or initiations. Many also contain valuable or ancient artifacts which need to be kept safe.
Frequently changing, complex and heavily regulated, insurance can seem extremely daunting to those without inside knowledge. If you require advice regarding buildings, contents or equipment cover, or need some information regarding legal expenses and public liability, it is advisable to contact an insurance company for a better understanding. Insurance companies provide assistance with cover for other related activities and trips. There is a comprehensive church insurance that can provide the peace of mind you need which unfortunately is not being explored. An understanding of insurances is vital when organizing cover for religious buildings, whether mosque insurance, church insurance or any other. There are many valuables that are insurable in a church. Some of these are expensive musical equipments, generators, chairs, tithes and offerings, especially in churches where there are tithe boxes permanently built in the church auditorium. Other properties worth insuring are goods for sale to church members such as books and other essentials which may be entrusted to the church. Above all, the church building and the people who worship in it are areas that insurers cannot afford to miss insuring. It is a known fact that most church buildings are architectural masterpieces, therefore if insurance companies can tap into the opportunities that exist in church insurance their present premium volume would increase bountifully.
Mosque insurance is also as important as church insurance.
Insurance companies have many untapped areas to insure in a mosque. Having a mosque insurance policy will be invaluable to you as it will give you peace of mind knowing that the mosque building is covered, as well as the contents and the people who may be inside at any given moment. For instance, if you are not covered and an incident occurs that could leave the mosque in a bad state of disrepair, it will be very costly to repair without an insurance policy to cover it.
Insurance companies that offer mosque insurance tend to differ depending on the company focus, its location, orientation and the contents inside the building. Generally, most companies tend to offer options and others as compulsory.
Breakdown of equipment inside the mosque include computers and items such as boilers, heaters that may break down from time to time. Life itself is exposed to hazards, but with insurance cover, these will be covered and replaced at minimal cost to you. Insurers stand to gain immensely from other outside engagements such as fundraising activities that may take place on the mosque or church which may require insurance in the event of any accidents or ugly events happening.
There could also be increased costs should an insured event happen such as fire. For instance, this will cover any increased costs that may arise if something happens that is already insured by the policy, for example a flood.
Outside these standard options, many companies will offer optional extras such as precious metals cover. If you store valuable items in the building that are at increased risk of theft, these can be covered.
Religious building insurance policies may be available from a few insurance companies, with each offering slightly different options. But this is largely unpopular among the products that are competing for attention presently. It is important to liaise with your brokers to ascertain which of them offers a deal more tailored to suit your needs.
The role of brokers is essential in this regard because they know the insurance companies better than the public. So if you feel that you don’t have the time, or that choosing the right policy from all the options offered is going to be quite confusing and time confusing, an insurance broker will be able to help you out. They are trained experts in the field of various insurance areas, and will be able to contact a large network of insurance providers to try to get you the best deal for your mosque or church and your money. An insurance broker may charge a nominal fee, but they will be able to do all the legwork for you and give you peace of mind in a very short space of time. It is definitely worth considering using an insurance broker as you will be able to get the policy sorted very quickly and know that your insurance is up to date and you are covered in the case of any eventualities. This type of insurance is also very important, especially in places where natural disasters and man induced calamities are a common occurrence.
Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has cautioned the public against fake recruitment offers and fraudulent employment letters circulating in the agency’s name.
Eniola Akinkuotu, head of Media and Corporate Communications of the Commission, stated that NUPRC has received reports of counterfeit and AI-generated appointment letters bearing names not known to the regulator.
The Commission also said fraudsters have been extorting money from jobseekers by promising placement within the agency.
NUPRC has reported the incidents to law enforcement and said investigations are underway.
The regulator reiterated that there is no ongoing recruitment exercise and warned members of the public not to make any payments for supposed job offers.
“Whenever the Commission decides to recruit, the process will be conducted strictly in accordance with extant laws and government regulations,” the statement said.
The Commission urged jobseekers to verify any purported offer and to rely only on official NUPRC communications for recruitment information.
The warning follows growing concerns about the misuse of digital tools, including artificial intelligence, to fabricate apparently authentic documents that can deceive the public.
General News
Africa50 Secures Fresh Capital, Strategic Partnerships to Accelerate African Infrastructure
Africa50, the pan-African infrastructure investment platform, has secured new investment commitments and strategic partnerships with international investors and Tanzanian institutions aimed at mobilising capital for infrastructure development across Africa.
The agreements, announced at the 2026 Infra for Africa Forum in Dar es Salaam, include a US$20 million commitment from British International Investment (BII) to Africa50’s Infrastructure Acceleration Fund (IAF), as well as partnerships covering natural gas, electricity transmission and healthcare infrastructure in Tanzania.
The latest commitments bring the IAF’s total capital commitments to approximately US$330 million.
Under one of the major agreements, Africa50, Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) and TAQA Arabia will develop the first phase of a small-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) project designed to distribute domestic natural gas to industrial and transportation customers across Tanzania.
Africa50 is partnering with TAQA Arabia and TPDC on the project, providing project development, investment and financial structuring expertise to develop a bankable model that could be replicated in Tanzania and other markets.
Mussa M. Makame, Managing Director of TPDC, said the partnership demonstrated Tanzania’s commitment to leveraging its natural gas resources to support national development.
“As a gas supplier to this project, TPDC will work with the project partners to broaden domestic access to cleaner, reliable energy and create greater value for the Tanzanian economy,” he said.
Pakinam Kafafi, CEO of TAQA Arabia subsidiary Rosetta Energy Solutions, said the LNG project would convert Tanzania’s gas resources into reliable energy for industry, communities and transportation.
“This project will turn Tanzania’s abundant gas resources into reliable energy for industry, communities and transport, strengthening energy security and accelerating industrialization,” she said.
Africa50 also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tanzania Electricity Supply Company (TANESCO) to collaborate on electricity transmission Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
The partnership is expected to facilitate Tanzania’s first Independent Power Transmission (IPT) project, drawing on Africa50’s experience with its IPT project in Kenya.
Engineer Timoth Mgaya, Acting Managing Director of TANESCO, said the partnership would help Tanzania attract private capital and strengthen its transmission infrastructure.
“Partnering with Africa50 provides Tanzania with strategic project-development and financing expertise as we unlock private capital for Africa’s transmission infrastructure,” he said.
The agreement, he added, would contribute to the development of East Africa’s power market while supporting industrialisation, economic integration and inclusive growth.
In the healthcare sector, Africa50 and Tanzania’s Ministry of Health signed an MoU to expand access to renal care and dialysis services for patients suffering from kidney diseases.
The partnership is expected to provide healthcare infrastructure, reliable medical equipment, experienced operators and long-term investment to strengthen the country’s capacity to deliver life-saving renal services.
Meanwhile, BII’s US$20 million investment in the IAF makes the UK development finance institution the latest Limited Partner in the fund.
BII and Africa50 also signed an MoU to deepen cooperation and identify opportunities for co-investment and further mobilisation of capital into African infrastructure.
The IAF invests in equity and quasi-equity opportunities across power, transport and logistics, water and sanitation, digital infrastructure and social infrastructure.
The fund leverages Africa50’s relationships with African governments, corporates and project developers to deploy capital into infrastructure projects with strong commercial and development potential.
Leslie Maasdorp, Chief Executive Officer of BII, said the partnership would help mobilise additional capital into sustainable infrastructure across Africa.
“Africa’s infrastructure needs are significant, but so are the opportunities,” Maasdorp said. “By combining our expertise, networks and capital, we can help unlock investment that drives growth, creates jobs and improves lives.”
Alain Ebobissé, Group CEO of Africa50, said the new partnerships reflected the organisation’s evolution from a project development institution into a major infrastructure investment platform.
“Africa50 was created to develop bankable projects, mobilize finance for investments in Africa’s infrastructure and accelerate delivery,” he said.
According to Ebobissé, the organisation is now positioned to scale up infrastructure investment by translating the vision of African leaders into commercially viable projects capable of attracting capital from both African and international investors.
The agreements were announced as Africa50 marked its 10th anniversary under the theme, “A Decade of Economic Impact: From Vision to Delivery.”
MTN Nigeria, leading technology company, recently hosted undergraduates from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) for an immersive career engagement session, at the MTN Rooftop Plaza, Ikoyi, Lagos.
MTN
The event exposed students to career opportunities across cybersecurity, finance, internal audit and forensic investigations while providing practical insights into the skills required to succeed in today’s workplace.
The session was designed to bridge the gap between academia and industry by helping students better understand the diverse career paths available within the telecommunications and technology sector.
The engagement brought together students studying Economics, Banking and Finance, Cybersecurity and Accounting, providing an opportunity to interact directly with professionals from various business functions.
Through presentations and discussions, participants gained a deeper understanding of the competencies, experiences and continuous learning required to build successful careers in a rapidly evolving business environment.
The engagement comes at a time when technology-related roles, including cybersecurity specialists, are among the world’s fastest-growing occupations, according to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025.
During the visit, the students met with senior cybersecurity and forensic professionals who shared insights into their respective fields and discussed emerging trends shaping the future of work.
The sessions also highlighted the wide range of career opportunities available across different fields, demonstrating that success in the industry is not limited to any particular course of study.
Undergraduates were also introduced to the evolving nature of the audit profession, as data analytics, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity are becoming increasingly important areas of focus for internal auditors.
During a session on building a meaningful career in Internal Auditing, undergraduates were encouraged to approach their professional journeys with purpose, continuous learning and a commitment to personal growth.
The session emphasised that career success extends beyond securing employment and involves developing relevant skills, understanding one’s strengths and intentionally pursuing opportunities that align with personal values and long-term goals.
Speaking during the engagement, Chief Internal Audit and Forensic Services Officer, Ibe Kalu Etea, represented by the General Manager, Internal Audit and Forensics, Wasiu Ibrahim, encouraged the undergraduates to remain open to opportunities beyond their academic backgrounds and focus on developing transferable skills. “Students can take any career path they want to. You can upskill and transition into a different career, even if it is not what you studied in school.
“Do not let your course of study determine your career path. Focus on building relevant skills, staying curious and continuously learning because opportunities exist across many fields,” he said.
The Undergraduates also participated in an interactive question-and-answer session, where they sought guidance on career development, workplace expectations and professional growth.
The initiative reflects MTN Nigeria’s commitment to nurturing future talent by connecting young people with industry leaders and equipping them with the knowledge, exposure and confidence needed to navigate their career journeys.
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