By Bisi Bamishe
The 52nd President of Chartered lnsurance institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Mrs Yetunde Ilori has unveiled the agenda for her tenure.
Disclosing the theme of her tenure to insurance editors in Lagos, Ilori said, “I have a deep-seated desire that gave birth to the theme of my tenure: “Igniting the bedrock of our envisioned industry” and I believe with all desire can become a reality.
According to her, the theme is expected to be actualized under the agenda summarised in four letter acronym ‘EPIC’.
“EPIC as a word, means awesome, spectacular, an unexpectedly long and arduous task (usually difficult). It can be said to be ambitious and artistic goal but I am encouraged by this saying “So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable”, she said.
Iiori explained that EPIC was chosen after taking a critical look at the insurance industry, assessing where the operators are and where they should be.
“This acronym encapsulate our commitment to Education, Professionalism, Institutional Recognition and capacity building within and outside the insurance industry.
“We will focus on enhancing fostering innovation, and promoting ethical practices in the Nigerian Insurance industry. We will also strengthen our collaborations with regulators and other professional bodies and relevant stakeholders. Steps will be taken at sustaining the success recorded by the previous presidents as well as completing previously initiated projects”, she added.
Mrs. Ilori began her insurance career with Trans Nigeria Assurance Company Limited in Ibadan in 1984, first as a place of her primary assignment during her youth service and was subsequently employed as a permanent staff of the Company. She quickly rose to the position of Head of the Life and Pensions Department. Mrs Ilori later headed the Claims and Reinsurance department due to her dedication and skills. In 1997, she joined Crusader Insurance Plc in Lagos State, where she served as Head of Actuarial, Research & Statistics and Life Departments respectively.
In 2004, she transitioned to AXA Mansard Insurance Plc (formerly Guaranty Trust Assurance Plc), where her strategic leadership as Managing Director/CEO transformed the company into a leading insurance provider in Nigeria.
Her exemplary leadership continued as the Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA). She was the first female DG/CEO During her tenure, she oversaw the completion of the NIA’s iconic six-storey building and the implementation of the Nigerian Insurance Industry Database (NIID) Motor, Marine, Building Insurances and lately Group life assurance, and Nigerian Insurance Platform (NIIP), enhancing the credibility of insurance products in Nigeria. Also, the manual compilation and presentation of statistical reports Digest, became digitalized thereby making for ease reference and analysis.
At the continental level, Mrs Ilori was <span;>the First Female Chairperson of the Life Committee of the African Insurance Organisation (AIO)