What this life looks like
You connect people who need protection with the insurers who can provide it. Insurance Brokers act as independent intermediaries between insurance buyers and insurance companies, advising clients on the right products, negotiating the best terms, and managing claims when things go wrong. You work for your client, not for the insurer — making you a trusted adviser in a complex industry.
What she actually does
You meet clients, understand their risks and insurance needs, approach multiple insurers for quotations, compare and present options, negotiate premiums and policy terms, place the cover, provide ongoing policy management, and support clients when making claims. Large corporate brokers handle billions of dollars in insurance premiums for multinationals and governments.
Where you can work
| Sector | Places in Africa |
|---|---|
| Global Brokers (Africa) | Marsh McLennan Africa, Aon Africa, Willis Towers Watson Africa, Gallagher Africa |
| Regional Brokers | Gras Savoye (Francophone Africa), Howden Africa, Old Mutual Insurance Brokers |
| Specialist Brokers | Energy Risk Africa, Marine Insurance brokers, Aviation specialist brokers |
| Independent Brokers | Avatar Insurance Brokers (Nigeria), Resolution Insurance (Kenya), Minet Africa (EA) |
Why it matters in Africa
As African businesses grow in sophistication, they need professional insurance advisory rather than simply buying whatever a single insurer offers. The transition from direct insurance to broker-placed business is accelerating across corporate and SME markets. Growth in infrastructure, trade, and agribusiness is creating new insurance demand that brokers are best placed to serve.
Your pathway in
- Study Business, Finance, or Risk Management at university
- Pursue the CII (Chartered Insurance Institute) qualification — essential for credibility in the profession
- Begin your career at a large brokerage firm — you will learn by working on client accounts alongside senior brokers
- Develop specialist knowledge in a sector or line of business: energy, marine, healthcare, or aviation
- Build strong relationship and negotiation skills — broking is fundamentally a people business
Skills you will need
- Client advisory
- Market negotiation with insurers
- Policy analysis
- Claims management
- Relationship management
- Presentation and communication
A woman in this field
Ebelechukwu Nwachukwu
Nigeria
Ebelechukwu is a powerhouse in the Nigerian insurance landscape and currently serves as the Managing Director/CEO of Rex Insurance Limited. While her career spans various leadership roles in underwriting and executive management, she is a staunch advocate for the brokerage model and the professionalization of intermediaries. She is a Chartered Insurer and a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN).
Take your first step
- Research the difference between an insurance broker and a direct insurer — understanding this distinction is the foundation of the profession
- Read about a major insurance claim in the news and trace how the claim would have been handled by a broker
- Visit the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) website to understand professional insurance education in your country
- Arrange a conversation with an insurance broker in your city to understand their day-to-day work