The future of Nigeria’s pension industry will not be determined solely by investment performance or regulatory compliance. It will be determined by how effectively institutions anticipate uncertainty, build resilience, and transform risk into a strategic advantage. Lolade Aiyepola, head, Risk Management, Access ARM Pensions discusses how strategic risks management will drive growth in pension. Modestus Anaesoronye brings the report.
For many years, risk management in Nigeria’s pension industry has largely been viewed through the lens of compliance, an essential function designed to satisfy regulatory requirements, prevent operational failures, and avoid sanctions. This approach has undoubtedly strengthened governance and contributed to the credibility of Nigeria’s Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most significant financial sector reforms since the enactment of the Pension Reform Act and its subsequent strengthening under the Pension Reform Act 2014.
Today, however, the industry operates in a far more dynamic environment than it did when the CPS was first introduced. Over the years, pension assets have grown significantly, while millions of Nigerians have been enrolled into the scheme, reflecting increasing confidence in the nation’s retirement savings framework. At the same time, Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) are navigating rapid technological advancement, evolving customer expectations, cybersecurity threats, economic uncertainty, changing regulatory requirements, and increasing efforts by the National Pension Commission (PenCom) to expand pension coverage through financial inclusion.
