Student Innovations and Impact at the National Product Development Competition 2025
By Linet Wanjohi and Gidmas Jessy,
The National Product Development Competition (NPDC) 2025, hosted at JKUAT Main Campus in Juja, brought together bright minds from across Kenya under the theme: “The Actuary Reboot: Adaptation in the New Era.” The event was organized by the Jomo Kenyatta University Actuarial Students’ Association (JKUASA) in partnership with the Actuarial Students’ Society of Kenya (ASSK), offering a space for young actuaries to present bold ideas shaping the future of the profession.
Students showcased impressive projects addressing real-world challenges such as forecasting web traffic trends, leveraging blockchain and smart contracts to streamline insurance payouts in Kenya, and developing AI-powered pricing models for mental health services that accounted for therapy costs, medication, app development, and ongoing maintenance. These innovative efforts aligned closely with the conference’s broader focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategies.
Speakers and panelists emphasized the evolving role of actuaries beyond traditional analytics. Mr. Xaviour Aluku, Founder and CEO of the African Centre for Data Science & Analytics Ltd. (AfriCDSA), encouraged students to take ownership of their career paths, while Ms. Wangeci Mathenge, a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (FIA), stressed the growing need for tech skills like programming and machine learning.
Equally important were soft skills emotional intelligence, communication, and storytelling which were discussed during the “Human Reboot” panel session. These abilities are now essential for turning complex data into real-world solutions.
Keynote speaker Ms. Stella Njunge, CEO of Jubilee Health Insurance Kenya, delivered a powerful message “Embracing Change, Leading Innovation” set the tone for a future-ready profession. With the actuarial field becoming increasingly global, the “Beyond the Borders” panel explored international career paths, supported by insights from Japheth Indakwa (FSA) of the Society of Actuaries (SOA).
As the event closed, judges emphasized clarity, research depth, and innovation, values that define the actuarial profession today. The NPDC 2025 served as a vital bridge between students and the industry, especially insurance players looking to tap into Kenya’s next generation of actuarial talent.In every sense, NPDC 2025 showed that actuaries are no longer just risk analysts — they’re innovators.
