Year: 2026

In a vibrant twist to this year’s Valentine’s Day celebration, AIICO Insurance Plc stepped beyond the traditional flowers-and-chocolates narrative to meet young Nigerians where they are, on the streets and on campus.

Partnering with popular street influencer Kabiyesi, AIICO Insurance brought energy, laughter, and meaningful conversations to undergraduates through engaging street interviews focused on one powerful question: How far would you go to protect the ones you love?

The answers were heartfelt, surprising, and deeply moving.

From spontaneous shout-outs to emotional tributes, many students spoke passionately about their parents, especially their mothers.

One undergraduate declared, “My mum has sacrificed everything for me. If there’s anything I can do to secure her future, I will do it.”

Another said, “If I start making money today, the first thing I’ll do is make sure my family is protected.”

While the atmosphere was fun and lively, complete with playful banter and Valentine-themed giveaways, the message was clear: love is not just about grand gestures; it is also about responsibility.

“For us at AIICO Insurance, Valentine’s Day is about more than romance,” the company’s brand manager, Oluremi John, shared.

“It’s about showing love in practical ways – by protecting the people and things that matter most. Insurance is one of the most powerful ways to do that.”

Through Kabiyesi’s signature high-energy style, students were asked what they would insure if money were no object. The responses ranged from “my mum, without thinking twice” to “my entire family” and even “my small business hustle.”

Many expressed willingness to “pay any price” to shield their loved ones from life’s uncertainties, demonstrating that, even at a young age, they understand the true cost of care and commitment.

Beyond the excitement, the campaign seamlessly blended entertainment with education.

Between laughter and candid moments, AIICO representatives simplified what insurance means, how it works, and why it matters, breaking down common misconceptions and showing that insurance is not distant or complicated, but accessible and relevant to young adults beginning their financial journeys.

As one student put it, “We always think insurance is for older people, but honestly, it makes sense. If you love someone, you should plan for them.”

With over six decades of standing by Nigerians through life’s highs and lows, AIICO Insurance continues to innovate in how it connects with emerging generations.

By taking the conversation to the streets, the company reinforced its commitment to deepening insurance awareness and building a culture of protection among young Nigerians.

This momentum is further reflected in AIICO’s recently refreshed brand identity, reimagined to resonate with younger demographics, their energy, bold aspirations, and evolving lifestyles.

It signals a company that is not only modern in outlook but intentional about journeying with them through every stage of life – supporting their dreams, protecting their milestones, and growing alongside their ambitions.

Valentine’s Day may be known as the season of love, but for AIICO Insurance, it also became a season of purpose, reminding youths that true love plans ahead, prepares for tomorrow, and safeguards the future.

AIICO Insurance is a leading composite insurer in Nigeria, with a 60-year record of accomplishment in delivering quality service to its clients.

*By Paul Ejime

At a time when Nigerians are demanding more transparent and acceptable methods of election results transmission, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman of Arise News Television/ThisDay Newspaper media group, has floated an African-built social media platform, LekeeLekee.com, to expand his business empire, cater to the needs of digitally underserved communities and at the same time, challenge media imperialism.

Africa’s estimated 1.4 billion people are largely consumers of media applications/platforms built mainly by the West and China.

“For too long, global platforms have been built far from our realities.

LekeeLekee is our answer – a platform that is fast, fair, and open, one that amplifies voices rather than extracting them,” Obaigbena, a journalist and media mogul, said in a statement on Monday, 16th February 2026.

The new platform derives from the African communal spirit of Ubuntu, “I am because you are.”

Lekeelekee or Cattle Egret, biologically known as “Bubulcus ibis,” is a white-plumed bird found globally across tropical, subtropical and warm-temperate regions, including Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas.

The choice of name for the new media platform could not have been a sheer coincidence.

Prince Obaigbena, the Duke of Owa Kingdom in Nigeria’s Mid-western Delta state, explained that the “new social media space is also available as a Progressive Web App (PWA), which would enable seamless access across devices and connectivity levels.”

He described LekeeLekee as “a fast, cutting-edge social media platform and super app… engineered to function optimally in low-bandwidth environments, offering low-data, high-speed feeds alongside video sharing, instant messaging with voice notes and built-in content moderation tools.”

Lekeelekee also “represents a strategic response” to what Obaigbena called “the disconnect between global technology platforms and local realities,” adding that the platform “is positioned not merely as a social networking site but also a digital ecosystem designed to empower users, encourage authentic engagement, and foster inclusive online communities.”

According to him, Lekeelekee “enters the competitive social media space, leveraging (the Arise News/ThisDay) strong brand presence in broadcasting and print media, to build a homegrown digital alternative.”

Obaigbena urged users to “embrace the new platform… as an opportunity to participate in shaping a more equitable digital landscape.”

He also encouraged stakeholders to join in the organisation’s unfolding digital future vision.

The launch “marks a significant milestone in the media group’s ongoing innovation drive and underscores its ambition to redefine digital engagement from an African perspective,” the statement said.

Ahead of Nigeria’s crucial 2027 elections, the national debate about the level and quality of Internet connectivity in Africa’s most populous Black nation, with an estimated 240 million people, has reached a fever pitch.

The Nigerian Senate is in the eye of the storm, amid civil society and opposition-led street protests by Nigerians urging federal lawmakers to act against election rigging in the country, by passing a law for real-time electronic transmission of election results.

With its simple community-friendly features, Lekeelekee platform is accessible via iOS, Android and Web links, and could not have come at a better time, that is, if the Nigerian legislature is willing to revolutionise the country’s controversial and divisive electoral system.

A game-changing digital opportunity is up for the taking!

*Ejime is a Global Affairs Analyst and Consultant on Peace & Security and Governance Communications*