By Bisi Bamishe
The immediate past Chairman of the Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA) and Group Managing Director, NEM Insurance Plc, Mr Tope Smart, will assume the office of the president of African Insurance Organization (AIO) at its 47th conference and annual general meeting taking place in Nigeria next month.
Nigeria hosted the conference about 21years ago where the then managing director of Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation, Mr Mirilla became the organisation’s president in Abuja. Mr Smart is expected to occupy the office for the next one year.
While acquainting the press with preparations for the forthcoming conference in Lagos today, the Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC), Mrs Ebelechukwu Nwachukwu stated that it was to the credit of the past leadership of the Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA) and the leadership of other arms of the insurance industry to host the conference which will take place at Eko Hotels & Suites Victoria Island, Lagos, from 4th – 8th September 2021.
“As you are all aware, Nigeria hosted the conference about 21 years ago and it is to the credit of the past leadership of the Association and the leadership of other arms of the insurance industry that we have the honour of hosting this 47th edition of the conference,” she said.
Nwachukwu noted that hosting 2021 AIO conference is significant to Nigeria in many ways. “Apart from the opportunity to showcase our rich culture and hospitality, it will also be a great opportunity to correct some of the misconceptions about Nigeria and her people. We see this conference as yet another golden opportunity to showcase the insurance industry,” she said.
The conference was scheduled to hold last year but due to the covid-19 pandemic, the AIO Secretariat in conjunction with the LOC decided to hold it this year as a hybrid event to cater for those who would not be able to attend physically.
She emphasized that in planning the conference at this time, full cognizance of all the health protocols and restrictions on public gatheing was taken, hence the decision to make it a hybrid event.
To give further impetus to this decision, she explained that the LOC is limiting the number of physical attendees while others are being encouraged to take advantage of the virtual conference to participate from their different locations, adding that for physical attendees, all Covid-19 protocols would be observed and implemented to the letter.
She stated, “The LOC has carefully followed the template provided by AIO Secretariat in planning the conference and I want to assure you that we are prepared to host the best and most memorable conference.”
According to Nwachukwu, efforts at addressing the debilitating effects which Covid-19 pandemic had left on many economies informed the LOC to use the opportunity of the 47th AIO conference to contribute to discussions and decisions around how insurance can contribute to ongoing efforts at rebuilding economies seriously impacted by the pandemic, thus the conference’s theme; ‘Rebuilding Africa’s Economy: An Insurance Perspective.’
Subtopics to address other contemporary issues affecting the insurance industry include: The new normal: How leaders can reset for growth beyond covid-19; Regulation, innovation and the future of insurance; Harnessing the potential for growth and development in the Nigerian insurance market and AfCFTA and the African Insurer: Prospects and Opportunities.
The resource persons include: Mr. Jakkie Cilliers of the Institute of Security Studies, South Africa, Mr. Belhassen Tanat of Munich Re, Mr. Yinka Sanni of Standard Bank Group and Mr. Tawiah Ben- Ahmed of Metropolitan Life Insurance, Ghana.
She expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Olorundare Sunday Thomas who has been working assiduously and liaising with the various ministries and agencies to ensure that the committee get the full support from the government.
Furthermore, she stated that the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning,
Mrs Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed has also been very supportive of their efforts. “We owe her a lot of appreciation for the letter of comfort which was the first requirement from AIO as proof that we have the support of the government to host the conference,” she said.
NIA Chairman, Mr Ganiyu Musa, emphasized that beyond insurance companies’ participation, there would be a lot of multiplier effects on the nation’s economy.
Musa noted that service providers that are complementary to insurance business and the insurance industry would have opportunity to advertise their products to Africa and beyond, not only in Nigeria.
AIO was established in 1972, in Mauritius with the objective to develop a healthy insurance and reinsurance industry in Africa as well as promote inter African co-operation in insurance.
The organisation has 354 members in 48 African countries, 16 members in overseas countries and has nine bodies.
