Efekoha
ADDRESS BY MR EDDIE EFEKOHA, PRESIDENT/CHAIRMAN OF COUNCIL, CHARTERED INSURANCE INSTITUTE OF NIGERIA, DURING THE INSTITUTE’S 2019 GRADUATION AND FELLOWSHIP AWARDS CEREMONY HELD ON THURSDAY 5TH DECEMBER, 2019 AT 10 DEGREES EVENTS CENTRE, IKEJA, LAGOS STATE OF NIGERIA.
PROTOCOLS
Ladies and gentlemen, captains of industry and distinguished stakeholders of the insurance industry. It is with a deep sense of pride and fulfillment that I welcome you all to the 2019 Graduation and Fellowship Awards Ceremony of our great Institute. Since its conception in 1992, the Institute’s professional examinations have served as a springboard for outstanding practitioners to launch and distinguish themselves into the core of the insurance industry.
On behalf of the Members of the Governing council and the Institute’s secretariat, I would like to say congratulations to the inductees and awardees here present. This is no mean feat and should give you joy and a sense of achievement. The professional qualifications are a source of pride to the Institute and all its members. Today, I welcome you to the prestigious club of Insurance Professionals.
It is extremely important to point out that by attaining our professional qualification, you have become custodians of the ethics and codes of practice of our noble profession. The purpose of the Institute’s code of ethics is to set forth the values, principles and standards that will guide the conduct of all insurance practitioners. The mantra of the Institute remains focused around repositioning and reinforcing the integrity of our profession. As lifetime ambassadors of the Insurance practice, I urge you to uphold this creed and replicate all that it represents in your endeavors. Who you are and the principles you uphold are some of the things that make you stand out as a leader and a truly successful professional.
The completion of the Institute’s examination and your induction as an Associate of the Institute is actually the beginning of your quest for knowledge. To be successful, you have to use each day as an opportunity to improve, to be better, and to get a little bit closer to your goals. It might sound like a lot of work, but the best part is, the more you accomplish, the more you’ll want to do more and the higher you’ll want to reach. As long as you have the hunger for success, you will always have the power within you to achieve it. I urge you not to relent in developing yourselves in order to stay relevant in the dynamic business world of today and in the future. Ensure that take advantage of the Mandatory Continuous Professional Development (M.C.P.D) programmes offered by the Institute in addition to other post-qualification training courses.
Please note that that all certificates issued by the Institute remain the Institute’s property and could be withdrawn from the holders if the Institute has good reasons to do so. Please note that a further reason for such withdrawal of certificates could emanate from acts unexpected of a holder of the Institute’s professional qualification and unethical behavior. This policy remains in force. It is my hope that there will not be an occasion where the institute is required to do so.
It is clear that the potential of the financial services sector which includes insurance is great. As professionals, the task before us is for creativity to drive our thoughts and equally refrain from wasting time trying to reinvent the wheel. Technology is creating more platforms and there is the need for creativity to lead in order to maximize these platforms and benefit from the gains that they hold.
We aware of the ever changing demands of the dynamic business environment and I can assure you that considerable effort is being put in by the Institute to remain relevant to the modern day professional as a leading light to Insurance practitioners in the country and beyond it. Ultimately the goal is to ensure that Insurance practitioners retain the competitive edge that will see them perform at optimal levels in order to tackle the current challenges in the business landscape and to stand out successfully.
Ladies and Gentlemen, in all we do, our job is to bridge the divide and make a difference in our industry for the growth of our country. The Insurance industry is undergoing a revolution and our ability to dig in and dig deep during this defining period will ensure that we are not swept away by the turn of events.
I would like to appreciate and welcome our guests who have made great efforts to be with us for the duration of this ceremony and once again I would like to convey the warmest wishes and the congratulations of our Council to all awardees and graduands.
I’ll end with a quote from the late Steve Jobs and this is directed at the celebrants of today, “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice, most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.
Thank you for your attention.
MR. EDDIE EFEKOHA FCII, FIIN
President/Chairman of Council
CHARTERED INSURANCE INSTITUTE OF NIGERIA
