SPEECH DELIVERED BY ENGINEER ADEOSUN AS THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE RISK MANAGERS SOCIETY AT THE CLOSING DINNER THAT CLIMAXED THE 2016 CONFERENCE OF THE SOCIETY IN LAGOS

SPEECH DELIVERED BY ENGINEER ADEOSUN AS THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE RISK MANAGERS SOCIETY AT THE CLOSING DINNER THAT CLIMAXED THE 2016 CONFERENCE OF THE SOCIETY IN LAGOS ON FRIDAY, MAY 6, 2016
Salutation
It is my delight to welcome you all to the Closing Dinner cum Investiture ceremony which climaxes the 2016 Conference of the Risk Managers Society of Nigeria. I like to appreciate all delegates and guests for accepting to attend this event, in view of other competing engagements.
As you are aware, delegates had been taking through two days of professional and intellectual empowerment, which was the main focus of this conference. The paper presentations and the dialogue session had definitely sharpened the skills of delegates and fostered interaction amongst them, for which we are most delighted.
May I at this juncture appreciate the esteemed presence of the Special Guest of Honour and Chairperson of this Dinner, our revered MrsFolorunshoAlakija, for accepting to attend this event. I am sure we shall all draw inspiration from her rich repertoire of knowledge when she gives her address and interacts with us later on. We thank you and pray for your good health and prosperity,ma.
Suffice it to note that tonight is quite significant as it would also mark the formal hand over of the baton of leadership to me as RIMSON President; even though my formal election and ratification had been performed by the Executives earlier. Permit me to appreciate all members for the confidence reposed on me to lead them and also use this medium to acknowledge the phenomenal roles played by my predecessors in office. I have had the privilege of serving with many of them during which I drew significant inspiration to perform excellently in office. I salute my immediate predecessor, Mrs. EffiongEkaha for her diligence and unquenchable passion for the growth of RIMSON. In spite of obvious daunting challenges, Mama Rimson as she is often called,braved the odds to ensure the survival and relevance of the Society. She is greatly appreciated!
My assumption of office as RIMSON president at this critical time has foisted on me a great burden to deliver by making the Society a household name in the comity of other professionals in Nigeria. Towards this end, I have clearly identified four policy thrusts, namely: Image Projection; Members Continuous Professional Development; Strategic Relationship Building and Effective Lobby. The articulation of these thrusts which I hope to unselfishly commit myself to is aimed at bringing more positive change to the fortunes of RIMSON through the collective support of every member. Those days should be past when RIMSON occupied the backwaters of the professions. We must resolve to strategically engage all relevant stakeholders in government, the private sector and the professions to create greater relevance for the Society. I wish to state that the horizon for Risk Management in the country is great and getting braider by the day, considering the challenging environment in which we live today. We must therefore square up to building sufficient capacity to provide the needed professional services to increase man power in the risk management profession through examinations and appropriate certification.
It is most heartwarming that RIMSON would be conferring Fellowship and Achievement Awards on some worthy professionals and individuals at this event. The selection of the awardees was quite objective and meticulous. We resolved to make nomination for the coveted awards a remarkable departure from the usual practice of putting monetary or pecuniary value on such awards. The implication is that we are electing all the awardees as Ambassadors and “Evangelists” of the Risk Management profession. We shall from time to time covet their expertise, their moral, and of course, financial support when necessary. Our hope is also that the younger generation will drew inspiration from them through mentorship.
Furthermore, in a bid to spread the Gospel of Risk Management amongst students and to catch them young, RIMSON will from next year institute Awards for Best Post Graduating students in Risk Management at the University of Lagos. Also, similar awards would be extended to the best undergraduate students in other higher institutions that would be selected across the country. Best students in Risk Management in the ACIIN examinations will also have the privilege of receiving the award.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, since this night is not for extensive speech making, it will be my greatest delight to once again welcome you to dinner and wish you a delightful evening.
Thank you all and God bless.