From left: Immediate past Director-General, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) Sunday Thomas; Director-General, Mrs Yetunde Ilori and Chairman, Eddie Efekoha at the event.
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Chuks Udo Okonta
The immediate past Director-General, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) Sunday Thomas, has left indelible footprints in the annals of the association, the Chairman, Eddie Efekoha, has said.
Efekoha, disclosed this at a send-forth dinner held in honour of Thomas in Lagos, stressing that the immediate past Director-General, left the association better than he met it.
He noted that given the peculiarity of the Nigerian Insurance market, the role of being the Chief Executive of a market association is by no means an easy task.
“It takes a high sense of service, dedication, commitment and strength of character, especially when difficult decisions have to be implemented. Sometimes the position of the market is at variance with your position or conviction but it takes maturity and selflessness to jettison your view or practice for the collective good. That is the practical demonstration of servant leadership.
“I am sure that in implementing the decisions of the Governing Council, some of us may have faulted his approach but he was never tired of engaging. I want to assure you that those decisions were collectively taken by the council and he was only implementing them.
“We have invited him here this evening to celebrate, honour and appreciate him for the excellent job he did during his seven year tenure at the Association. You will all attest to the fact that he left the Association better than he met it.
“Yesterday he was here, but today, he has moved on to higher calling andresponsibility. Without doubt, Mr. Thomas has left indelible footprints in the annals of the Association and it is our hope that the same zeal, strength of character, determination and sense of service which he brought to bear whilst at the NIA will be deployed in his new office,” he said.
“We know that he has the Association in his thoughts and prayers. Sometime in the near future, he will look back and be proud that we crossed paths,” he said.
On behalf of the Governing Council and the entire membership of the association, Efekoha thanked Thomas for the time and energy he invested in the association and told him that underwriters will continue to draw from his reservoir of knowledge and experience in moving the association forward.
