An Exploratory Study of the Awareness and Accessibility of Microinsurance Products in Selected Insurance Companies in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Microinsurance is crucial for a developmental stride in Nigeria’s insurance industry. This research therefore presents an investigation of the awareness and accessibility of microinsurance products with selected insurance firms a research ground for its empiricality. Essentially, two hypotheses were tested. They are to determine whether: (i) aggressive awareness drive towards microinsurance products has not been genuinely encouraged among insurance companies in Nigeria; and (ii) the accessibility of microinsurance products created by insurance companies have not significantly reflected in the lives of many insuring populace. The survey research design for this study was exploratory in nature. The study sample consisted of sixty (60) respondents from whom data were gathered through the use of an interview technique. A Kolmogorov-Smirnov technique was used for data analysis. The findings from the study revealed that awareness creation towards microinsurance products has been genuinely encouraged among insurance companies, while the accessibility has not yet reflected significantly in the lives of many insuring populace. The study thus recommends that adequate awareness, education and enlightenment programmes be introduced especially for low income earners. Also, Government should promote “financial literacy” through educational programmes using the mass media;Greater attention should be given to reducing operating cost and enhancing efficiencies amongst microinsurance service providers; and investment and continuous improvement in technology is highly essential for effective relationship management between customers and the insurance firms.

Keywords: Microinsurance products, awareness, accessibility, service providers, Lagos, Nigeria