By Ishola Balogun

Dr Dan Okehi is a Nigerian insurance expert, leadership consultant, and corporate trainer with over 40 years of experience. He is the Chairman of Brickred Consult Ltd and leads a transformational leadership and risk management program. He holds degrees in Insurance .

Dr. Dan Okehi is known for his contributions to banking risk management and insurance consulting in Nigeria. He is also an author, mentor, and Christian leader committed to organizational transformation.

What exactly is Brickred Consult Limited all about?

Daniel Okehi’s Brickred Consult is an international consultancy company that specializes in financial and human resource activities, risk management, and general insurance management programs. We lay emphasis on transformational leadership and strategic management for corporate organisations.

80% of our programs are centred on training, educating, and enlightening professionals within organisations, helping them transform their companies through transformational leadership initiatives.

So over the years, how would you describe either the achievements or the activities of Brickred Consult in actualising these objectives?

Actually, we are the leading management training organisation for the insurance industry. We are at the forefront when it comes to training professionals on oil and gas operations.

We collaborate with our partners from London to train professionals, especially in the area of capacity building, which remains one of the major challenges within the industry. We also organise several training programs on risk management to help bankers understand why there are still persistent bank failures in Nigeria and across the world.

In addition, we train organisations on strategic marketing, especially digital marketing, to help them improve productivity, increase profitability, and transition from marginal businesses to first-tier organisations within both the insurance and banking sectors.

That is what we are known for, and that is why organisations continue to engage our services.

Recently, we trained about 50 bankers in collaboration with the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation to strengthen knowledge in risk management, particularly in light of the ongoing recapitalisation within the banking sector. The objective was to ensure that the capital being injected into the banks is not eroded through poor risk management practices that consistently create financial gaps and reduce profitability.

Are these the basis for the Double-Dose Programs coming up in July, 2026, I mean the Masterclass for Upstream and Offshore Energy Insurance and the Transformational Leadership Program for HR Executives and Permanent Secretaries? What informed those topics?

Yes. If you look at the scopes and objectives of the programs, you will understand why we are bringing the Masterclass for Upstream and Offshore Energy Insurance and the Transformational Leadership for HR Executives and Permanent Secretaries Programs in the same month.

First of all, talking about the Transformational Leadership for HR Executives and Permanent Secretaries, we aim to strengthen their transformational leadership capabilities by equipping participants with advanced knowledge, strategic frameworks, and competencies required to function as transformational leaders capable of driving sustainable change within both public and private sector institutions in Nigeria.

We are also focused on repositioning HR as a strategic driver of institutional performance and building capacity in managing complex organisational change.

That is why the program will cover areas such as: Leading transformational paradoxes in organisations, Governance, ethics, and compliance expertise, Strategic thinking and executive leadership skills, Digital and future-ready HR leadership, Internal training and knowledge transfer capacity, Training-the-Trainers (TTT) development, Coaching, mentoring, and leadership development, Boardroom influence and strategic communication, Practical and actionable leadership outcomes.

One of the most critical aspects of this program is developing HR Executives and Permanent Secretaries as national leaders within the political and public policy space.

When you reach the position of Permanent Secretary, you are already at the highest administrative level within the ministry. The next phase is national leadership and policy influence. This program is therefore designed to strengthen and prepare them for that responsibility.

We believe this initiative will create the transformational foundation needed for national institutional growth.

When discussing the scope of the program, we focus on leadership paradoxes, organisational dynamics, organisational transformation, process reengineering, core HR executive responsibilities, strategic leadership management, and cross-functional influence.

That is why we describe the program as “Training the Trainers.” We want to equip HR Executives and Permanent Secretaries with the capacity to lead strategic transformational changes within Nigerian institutions.

Will you describe these elements as the missing link within Nigerian institutions and part of what is needed to transform the nation’s operational base?

Yes, absolutely. Once you equip the trainers properly, they will go a long way in influencing and transforming operations within their organisations and institutions. You may have a good topic and a strong concept, but delivery matters.

Who are the facilitators delivering these programs?

We have highly experienced professionals leading the program.

We have two facilitators coming from abroad. One of them is Dr. Charles Ajayi Khiran, a leading consultant and principal influencer in London with deep expertise in transformational leadership. He has consistently been coming to Nigeria to impact lives and institutions positively.

We also have Dr. Joe Emeson, a strategic management specialist.

At the core of the programme, we have Professor Pat Utomi, who specifically will be facilitating on “developing HR executives and permanent Secretaries as national leaders in the political realm”, also Tunde Gbamgboye, who will be driving sessions on organisational paradoxes and leadership dynamics.

We also have Mrs. Monisola Adedayo, who will be teaching organisational dynamics and coaching methodologies to help participants effectively mentor and develop people under them.

I will also be facilitating as a transformational leadership coach and process reengineering.

That is why we carefully selected the theme: Developing HR Executives and Permanent Secretaries as National Leaders in the Political Realm.

Why is this a must-attend conference?

The next edition after this will be organised in Dubai, and we will also have facilitators from the United Kingdom and the United States joining us. This program provides a rare opportunity to bring together highly experienced global professionals to address critical transformational leadership topics. It is not something that happens regularly. It is a once-in-a-while opportunity for professionals who truly want to grow and make an impact. This program will be held on the 20th -22nd of July, 2026, in NIA Tower, 42, Saka Tinubu Street, Victoria Island, Lagos

You described this as a Double-Dose Programme. The second component is the Upstream and Offshore Energy Insurance Program. What led to that initiative?

That program became necessary because the oil and gas environment in Nigeria is changing rapidly.

At the moment, Nigeria has low underwriting capacity within the energy insurance market. Because of that, only about 10% of the premium generated within the market is retained locally, while between 80% and 90% is transferred abroad due to insufficient local capacity.

Even in managing the small percentage retained locally, many operators still lack the expertise required, resulting in losses.

That is why we want to teach professionals how to manage that retained percentage profitably through properly structured Excess-of-Loss Reinsurance programs and professional underwriting strategies.

Beyond that, we also want to help create the capacity needed within the Nigerian insurance industry, especially now that recapitalisation within the insurance sector is expected to be finalized by July 2026.

We believe this presents an opportunity to build stronger institutions capable of underwriting more risks locally and reducing capital flight.

That is why we have invited David Sharp, one of the leading underwriters globally. He is based in London and operates as a syndicate at Lloyd’s London. Alongside myself and other facilitators, we will be training participants on modern upstream and offshore energy insurance operations.

What benefits should potential participants expect from the program?

Participants will gain practical knowledge in underwriting energy exploration risks, including understanding what insurers actually cover during drilling operations.

They will also learn about reservoir operations, drilling circulation systems, kick and blowout management, Operator’s Extra Expense Coverage, and energy exploration and development processes.

Most importantly, participants will understand the structure and risks associated with Floating Production, Storage and Offloading units (FPSO).

For example, the Shell Bonga FPSO is one of the major offshore production facilities currently operating within the Nigerian oil and gas sector. Participants will learn about its operational structure, components, associated risks, and insurance implications. The program will also expose participants to current global trends in offshore energy insurance and risk management.

The last edition of this program was organized in Dubai through a collaboration between Brickred Consult and an Asian company in 2020. However, this year’s edition is being organised in partnership with the West African Insurance Companies Association to attract participation from countries such as Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Mozambique, and South Africa. West African Insurance Companies Association (WAICA) is a regional body established to promote cooperation, capacity development, and best practices within the insurance industry across West Africa. Founded in 1973, WAICA brings together insurance companies, regulators, and industry stakeholders to enhance technical expertise, facilitate knowledge sharing, and support the growth and stability of the insurance sector in the sub-region. Through training program conferences and professional development initiatives, WAICA plays a pivotal role in strengthening insurance markets and fostering regional integration. This time around, the program is scheduled to be held on the 27th- 29th of July 2026, at the NIA Tower, 42 Saka Tinubu Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

It is not easy to bring someone like David Sharp from London for a three-day program. David Sharp is also the author of the Upstream and Offshore Energy Insurance, which is one of the leading global publications on upstream and offshore insurance operations, currently in its fourth edition. We strongly believe that this course will add significant value to professionals within the industry.

It is truly a must-attend program.