Efekoha
SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHARTERED INSURANCE INSTITUTE OF NIGERIA, MR EDDIE EFEKOHA AT THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY GALA NIGHT, HELD IN COMMEMORATION OF THE INSTITUTE’S 60TH ANNIVERSARY ON THURSDAY 6TH AUGUST AT HARBOR POINTS EVENTS CENTER, V/I, LAGOS.
Protocol
The Doyen of Insurance, Olola Olabode Ogunlana OFR & His amiable wife, our Mama, Mrs Caroline Kehinde Ogunlana,
Elder and Past Chairman, Prof Joe Irukwu
The Ag. CFI, Mr O S Thomas,
Past CFI, Chief Eugene Okwor
Our elder, Senator Yinka Omilani
All Past Presidents and Members of the Governing Council of CIIN
Chairman of NIA, Mr Tope Smart, President of NCRIB, Alhaji Shola Tinubu and President of ILAN, Alhaji Femi Hassan,
MDs and Senior Members of Insurance Institutions
Fellows and Associates of our Institute.
Members of the Press
Distinguished Guests, Ladies & Gentlemen
To God be the glory great things He alone has done for us! His graces have been so amazingly sufficient. Indeed what He has done to us we cannot tell it all. We return to HIM all glory, adoration and praise both now and forever. Amen.
It is with a deep sense of pride and delight that I welcome everyone to this Gala Night, the last of the week-long activities lined up to celebrate the 60th anniversary of our dear Institute, the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria. This celebration marks a significant milestone in the history of the Institute and it is heartwarming to see that you all have come out today to honour the Institute.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, there are some members of the Institute who would have loved to share this moment of celebration physically with us but had to answer the call of the Almighty God. Their contributions to the Institute are immense and well appreciated. (May I humbly request us all to observe a Minute of Silence for the repose of their souls) ………..May their souls continue to rest perfect peace.
This welcome address in my opinion will be incomplete if I fail to acknowledge very briefly our accomplishments in the past 60 years and those who worked tirelessly to made them happen. By way of a reminder the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria was established in August 1959 and charged with the general duty of determining the standards of knowledge and skills to be attained by persons seeking to become registered members of the Insurance profession in Nigeria. This duty it has delivered on very well. Very notably:
➢ The Institute remains committed to carrying out its major duty of catering for the manpower needs of the insurance Industry.
➢ The Institute started conducting its own examinations from April 10, 1989. (produced 3,335 Associates and 212 Fellows to date).
➢ It has continued to provide a platform for industry excellence and remains a rallying point for Insurance practitioners and stakeholders nationwide.
➢ It has evolved from being a tenant at Ajele to owning its own edifice which now houses its secretariat in Ebute Metta in 1999.
➢ The Institute got its chartered status through Act No 22 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in February 1993.
➢ Establishment of the Secretariat to cater for the needs of its growing membership.
➢ The establishment of the College of Insurance and Financial Management to enhance manpower development in the industry.
These modest achievements will not have been possible but for the hard work, passion, and determination of our founding fathers and leaders of the Institute. So please permit me to specially acknowledge the past presidents of the Institute who are here with us today:
Mr. F.O Ogunlana – 1974
Prof. J.O Irukwu – 1976
➢ Mr. E.B Onifade – 1978
➢ Chief. R.A Williams – 1980
➢ Elder(Dr.) A.k Oniwinde – 1988
➢ Mr. B.O Banjo – 1989
➢ Chief A.O Peters – 1993
➢ Mr. Ope Oredugba – 1994 – 1995
➢ Sir Ogala Osoka – 1998 – 1999
➢ Ven. Olusola O. Ladipo-Ajayi – 2000 – 2001
➢ Mr. Emmanuel.O. Eleoramo – 2002
➢ Alhaji Bala Zakariyau – 2003 – 2004
➢ Mrs Oluseyi. J. Ifaturoti – 2005 – 2006
➢ Mr. Adeyemo Adejumo – 2007 – 2008
➢ Mr Sunny Adeda – 2009 – 2010
➢ Dr. Wole Adetimehin – 20011 – 2012
➢ Dr. Fatai. K. Lawal – 2013
➢ Mr. Bola Temowo – 2014
➢ Lady Isioma Chukwuma – 2015 – 2016
➢ Mrs Funmi Babington Ashaye – 2017
Your efforts have helped the Institute attain a reputable position within the Insurance Industry and in the financial sector in general. As the 49th President of the Institute, I assure you on behalf of the governing council that we will not ensure that the Institute continues to retain its pride of place within the Insurance Industry in Nigeria and beyond.
We will encourage and involve our young professionals in the affairs of both the institute and the industry. Mentor them on the values of professionalism, integrity, ethical conduct, which you, our elders, hold very dear to your hearts such that in another sixty years from now they would look back and say that they have neither disappointed you nor themselves. Indeed they will celebrate many milestones and our industry would be better for it. The common comparison of the Nigerian market vis a vis what exists in other climes would have seized to exist
Distinguished elders, professional members, guests, ladies and gentlemen, it has been a long week of celebrations which started with a junta service at central mosque Alausa last friday, visit to charity homes on monday, a public lecture /symposium on Tuesday and thanksgiving service at all saints Anglican Church Yaba. Tonight we are here to wine and dine. Indeed to celebrate. Enough of my speech.
So on this occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of the Institute, I say, thank you all for all that you do for the Institute and for the Insurance Industry
But before I take Mgt seat let inform you that during this occasion, we will be launching a compendium chronicling the achievements of the Institute over the past 60 years. I urge you not to leave here without a copy of this historic publication. As we celebrate 60 today, and it is my prayer that we will all be alive to celebrate another notable Institute’s milestone.
As I bring this welcome address to a close let me again congratulate our Institute, Past Presidents, Past & Present Council Members, Fellows, Associates and other members of the Institute, Past and Present DGs, Management and staff of the CIIN Secretariat and all insurance consumers.
You all are our heroes and your labour shall not be in vain.
Long Live the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Mr. Eddie Efekoha, FCII,FIIN
President/Chairman of Council
Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria.
