Leadway Assurance has entered into a major partnership with the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit, state governments, and the PULA Foundation to deliver agricultural insurance solutions to smallholder farmers across Nigeria.
The partnership, unveiled in a statement on Tuesday, will provide protection for more than 249,000 farmers in Borno, Enugu, Taraba, Ekiti, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau, and Jigawa states. These farmers, who play a central role in the nation’s food supply chain, will now have access to insurance that shields them from the growing threats of drought, flooding, and pest outbreaks—disasters that have increasingly undermined productivity and food security.
The insurance scheme has been structured in a way that eases the burden of cost on farmers. State governments are subsidising half of the premiums, while the PULA and Bayer foundations are covering the remainder through donor financing. This shared responsibility model ensures that farmers, many of whom could not previously afford insurance, can now access protection without bearing the full financial cost.
Leadway Assurance stressed that this initiative is not just about selling insurance products but about strengthening the resilience of Nigeria’s agricultural sector in the face of climate change. The company highlighted the urgent need to equip farmers with tools, knowledge, and advisory support that will help them manage risks more effectively while sustaining their livelihoods. By combining financial protection with education and access to innovative solutions, the initiative is designed to encourage climate-smart practices that can transform the sector.
The firm also underlined the broader value of public-private partnerships, noting that such collaborations are critical in protecting vulnerable communities while advancing national food security goals. As agriculture remains the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, the impact of climate-related shocks is felt across households, markets, and industries. Providing insurance therefore serves not only as a safety net for farmers but also as a stabiliser for the wider food system.
To deepen the reach of this programme, the initiative will be amplified through the Harvesting Hope Caravan, a grassroots roadshow that will move across four geopolitical zones of the country. The caravan is expected to engage directly with farmers, educate them on the benefits of insurance, and raise awareness about adopting practices that promote resilience in the face of climate uncertainty.
With climate change posing an escalating threat to food production across Africa, this initiative reflects a growing recognition that insurance, combined with innovation and partnership, is a vital tool for securing the continent’s agricultural future. Nigeria’s model of collaboration between government, private insurers, and donor organisations could offer a blueprint for other African countries grappling with the same challenges of risk, resilience, and food security.
