Management Team
A team that takes a forward-looking approach to building, focusing on resilience, inclusivity, and lasting positive impact. Combining innovation with empathy to create adaptable solutions that support both individuals and businesses, empowering future generations to flourish together.
Dr. Japhet Ogueri Duru - Managing Director/CEO
Dr. Japhet Ogueri Duru - Managing Director/CEO
Dr. Duru is an accomplished Chartered Insurer, risk analyst and administrator equipped with a well-recognized record of accomplishment in an Executive Board role and Management skills with over three (3) decades of versatile and trusted experience in the Insurance Industry.
He holds a BSc (Hons) in both Economics and Insurance from the Imo State University Owerri and St Monica University, Cameroun; Masters in finance (MSc) from the Lagos State University and a PhD in Business Administration from the Charisma University in Turks & Caicos Island.
Dr Duru is a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria and an Associate member of the Nigeria Institute of Management (Chartered), Certified Pension Institute of Nigeria, and Chartered Institute of Administration and has also undergone various certification programs on leadership and management.
He started his insurance career at Valid Assurance Company Limited, and has worked for various insurance organizations like, Central Insurance Company Ltd (now Linkage Assurance Plc), DBLS Insurance Brokers Ltd, KBL Insurance Ltd, International Energy Insurance Plc, Stanbic IBTC Insurance Brokers Ltd, Heirs Insurance Brokers Ltd, Old Mutual Nigeria General Insurance Company Ltd, and Heirs General Insurance Ltd; where he gained valuable experience in underwriting, risk management, reinsurance, claims administration, business development, insurance broking and customer service.
He has previously worked as the Head of underwriting, Head of Technical Operations, Executive Director (Technical)/Chief Operating Officer, and Ag. Managing Director/ CEO.
Dr Duru was the Executive Director Technical/ Chief Operating Officer at Heirs General Insurance Limited before joining Universal Insurance Plc.
He was once a Chief Examiner of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) and a part-time lecturer at the Lagos State Polytechnic, where he also served as the external examiner. Dr Duru was a council member of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN). He is a motivational speaker and a facilitator of insurance and management courses.
Dr Duru is happily married, with four (4) children and he enjoys reading books, imparting knowledge and travelling.
Pastor Benson Ogbonna (Ph.D.) – General Manager, Southern Operations
Pastor Benson Ogbonna (Ph.D.) – General Manager, Southern Operations
Benson U. Ogbonna (Ph.D.) is an Associate member of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria and American Society of Civil Engineers respectively. He also holds a Diploma in Salesmanship from Jersey, Britain; B.Sc. in Industrial Mathematics; MSc. in Geophysics and MBA in Marketing.
He has worked at various times with the University of Port Harcourt and the Rivers State University of Science and Technology as part time Lecturer. He is also a Resource person to the Graduate Management School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
He joined Universal Insurance Plc. in 2000 as Marketing Manager and in 2003 was promoted to General Manager Business Development from where he became General Manager, Southern Operations.
He is married with children.
Chinedu Anthony Onyilimba, Esq. – Company Secretary/General Manager Legal Adviser
Chinedu Anthony Onyilimba, Esq. – Company Secretary/General Manager Legal Adviser
Barr. Chinedu Onyilimba holds a Bsc (Hons) degree in Mass Communication from the then Anambra State University of Technology, (ASUTECH) now ESUT and a Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB Hons) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He is also a full member of the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (MCArb.).
He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1998. He worked in various Law Firms where he participated actively in Litigations, handled several criminal, civil and commercial cases and has also gained enormous experience in private law practice as well as corporate law practice before joining the Universal Insurance Plc. He has garnered requisite experience in Company Law and Corporate legal issues since joining the Company and is presently the Company Secretary/Legal Adviser.
He is happily married with Children.
Mrs. Bamidele Ojo – GM/Head, Oil & Gas
Mrs. Bamidele Ojo – GM/Head, Oil & Gas
Mrs. Ojo is a member of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria as well as a Marketing graduate from The Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State with considerable working experience in the insurance Industry.
She started her Insurance career with a stint at Industrial General Insurance as a Superintendent, Marketing where she engaged in Micro Insurance Marketing after which she proceeded to Staco Insurance Plc as a Supervisor, Direct Sales Marketing. Thereafter, she proceeded to Law Union And Rock Insurance as an Assistant Manager Direct Marketing. She later moved to Mutual Benefit Assurance Plc, as a Deputy Manager where she was involved in Financial Institution Marketing, Direct Sales and Oil & Gas Insurance Marketing. She later joined FBN Insurance (formerly Oasis Insurance Plc) as a Manager where she actively got involved in bids packaging and Brokers marketing. She also worked with Anchor Insurance as a Senior Manager where she marketed High Net worth Individuals and Insurance Brokers.
Mrs. Ojo is an astute goal getter and also a dynamic Insurance practitioner. She joined Universal Insurance Plc in 2018 as a Controller heading the Oil and Gas Marketing Department. It is worthy of note that her ability to market in the specialized field of Oil and Energy made her contributions to be of immense benefit in Oil and Gas Portfolio of Universal Insurance Plc.
She has attended courses both within and outside Nigeria. She has attended courses in Oil and Gas organized by Marsh & McLennan Companies, Free to Grow International, African Development Solutions International and Offshore Technology Conference (OTC). She has been contributing to the growth of the Company and no doubt an asset to the organization.
Mr. James Olatunji Oyebayo – GM/Head, Marketing Department
Mr. James Olatunji Oyebayo – GM/Head, Marketing Department
James Olatunji Oyebayo started his insurance career two decades ago with Fire, Equity & General Insurance Company where he rose to the position of an Assistant Manager as an underwriter. While he was with Fire & Equity Insurance Company, he represented the company and served as an officer at various office Committees which included Fire Offices Committee (FOC), Marine Offices Committee (MOC) and Offices Representative Committee (ORC).
He later joined Kapital Insurance Company as the Head of Marketing in the Lagos office. In the year 2007, he resigned his appointment with Kapital insurance Company and joined First Cover Insurance Brokers as an Executive Director.
Mr. Oyebayo with his wealth of experience both in underwriting and marketing presently heads the Marketing Department at Universal Insurance Plc. He has attended various insurance courses organized by local and international bodies, he is also an Associate Member of insurance institute of Nigeria and he is happily married with children.
Mr. Anthony Uchechukwu Okafor – Head, Retail Group
Mr. Anthony Uchechukwu Okafor – Head, Retail Group
Tony Okafor studied Insurance at the Enugu State University of Science & Technology. His Professional Insurance career started over 20 years ago and he has since gained experience in several aspects of Claims, Product Development, Business Development, Sales, Retail, Branch/Regional Management and Strategy.
Tony has attended several courses both locally and internationally.
He is a member of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria; a Fellow of the Institute of Credit Administration and also a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria.
Tony has worked in strategic positions in several Insurance companies, and was the Group Head, Retail at Law Union & Rock Insurance Plc, prior to joining Universal Insurance Plc.
Tony is responsible for the Coordination of the Retail Group in the Company and is happily married with children.
Frank Agha - Internal Auditor
Frank Agha - Internal Auditor
Mr. Agha is a seasoned Accountant and Business Development practitioner.
He holds an HND degree in Accountancy from the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu, a BSC. degree in Economics from Caleb University, Lagos, an MBA from Rome Business School. He is an Associate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments (MCISI) – UK.
Agha has varied experiences in Banking, Manufacturing, Consulting, Accounting, internal Audit, control and compliance ranging for 19 years and counting.
In the past eleven years he has been in the Insurance Industry within Nigeria in divers’ roles within the Assurance Services from the International Energy Insurance Plc. as Internal Control and Compliance officer, Universal Insurance Plc as Chief Compliance Officer, Prestige Assurance Plc as Head, Internal Audit & Control and as current Chief Audit Executive with Universal Insurance Plc
He sees himself as a life coach and for a long time has been involved in training young people around him both religiously and academically in laying strong foundations for a brighter future.
Mr. Agha has attended courses on Operations, Administration, Insurance and Business Management to mention but few. He is joyfully married with two Children DOC and ACE.
Mrs. Justina Ibe - Chief Compliance Officer
Mrs. Justina Ibe - Chief Compliance Officer
Mrs. Justina Ibe heads the Admin department of the Company. She obtained HND in Accountancy from the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
She is a member of the Institute of Cost Management, Nigeria.
Mrs. Ibe started her career with Gold Standard Insurance Ltd. from where she went to work briefly with Jimbei Motors Ltd in 2004 as an Accounts Manager, a position she held for two years till she left to join Universal Insurance in 2006 as Senior Superintendent, Accounts. She was promoted to Senior Manager in the Accounts department where she doubled as the Company’s Compliance Officer. She was recently promoted to Assistant Controller, Accounts and appointed Admin Manager in 2019.
She is married with children.
Mr Andrew Ikechukwu Mgbanwune - Head of IT
Mr Andrew Ikechukwu Mgbanwune - Head of IT
Mr Andrew Ikechukwu Mgbanwune started his IT career with Woodzeks Systems Konsult Ltd as a database Administrator before joining Universal Insurance Plc in 2010 as a System Administrator.
He has a BSc. degree in Marketing from University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC). Before his degree he has shown interest in IT and has developed himself in IT programs.
Mr Mgbanwune has attended IT courses organized locally and Internationally and also a member of Association of Computer Engineers and Tech Assoc of Nigeria.
Patience Ezeakor, MBA, FCIA - Head, Human Resources/Admin
Patience Ezeakor, MBA, FCIA - Head, Human Resources/Admin
Ms. Ezeakor started her career with Universal Insurance Plc in 2008 as a Technical Officer from where she rose to head the Human Resources Department of the Company. She is a seasoned Human Resources Generalist practitioner, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Administrators (FCIA) and an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Administration.
She has an HND in Business Management and possesses an MBA in Human Resources from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho. She brings to bear over 7 years of hand-on-experience in employee recruitment and retention, staff development, HR records management amongst others.
Some of her notable achievements include establishment of a new division for managing Human Resources, staff and customers complaints and developing team building programs.
She has also attended various leadership and professional courses.