From left: Deputy President, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, Mrs. Bola Onigbogi; Commissioner for Insurance, Mohammed Kari and President, NCRIB, Shola Tinubu, at the event in Lagos.
SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE NIGERIAN COUNCIL OF REGISTERED INSURANCE BROKERS, MR. SHOLA TINUBU, ACII, FCIB AT THE FEBRUARY 2018 EDITION OF NCRIB MEMBERS’ EVENING HELD ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2018 IN LAGOS
• The Commissioner for Insurance, Alhaji Mohammed Kari
• The Managing Director, NEM Insurance Plc,
• Distinguished members of the NCRIB Governing Board,
• Distinguished members of our Council
• Representatives of LCCI,
• All our guests here present,
• Gentlemen of the Press,
• Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my utmost delight to welcome you all to the February edition of NCRIB Members Evening which is the second in series to be held since the commencement of my tenure as President. This edition of Members’ Evening promises to be the most exciting, considering the fact that we will be interacting with our sponsor, a Broker-Friendly as well as a leading and respected insurance company, NEM Insurance Plc. I would like to thank and congratulate the Management and Staff of NEM Insurance for taking the advantage of hosting this edition which is the first edition in 2018. Surely, at the appropriate time, the management team of NEM Insurance, ably led by its Group Managing Director, Mr. Tope Smart, will have the floor to address Insurance Brokers on their offerings and expectations from members of the Council. I have assurance that Mr. Smart and his colleagues will be great delight to interact with.
It is most gratifying that our Members’ Evening has over time metamorphosed into an event that foremost insurance firms are eager to host due to the proven record of derivable value. The performance of the platform further underscores the valued place of Insurance Brokers in the Insurance value chain, albeit coming with its challenges of keeping pace with the dynamics of customers’ expectations and professional services required us by underwriters and regulators. May I at this juncture crave the indulgence of my professional colleagues and all our revered elders to always create time to attend this bi-monthly event where we cross fertilise ideas and network to instigate collective growth.
Permit me at this juncture to appreciate the invaluable support, suggestions and encouragement this leadership team has received since the commencement of this tenure barely four months ago. Our desire to build a strong and virile institution through the empowerment of our Secretariat has continued to gather momentum through the support and understanding of all members. With the new vision, our Secretariat has, without a doubt, begun to fully interact and cross fertilize ideas with all stakeholders, especially other reputable institutions in the country, for the long run benefit of members.
I cannot but use this medium to warmly welcome into our midst the Commissioner for Insurance, Alhaji Mohammed Kari for making good his promise to attend this event and address us. May I put on record the great support which the CFI has continued to give our Council, leading to a better harmonious relationship between NCRIB and NAICOM. Most worthy of note is the fact that the NCRIB delegation led by my good-self have visited NAICOM two consecutive times and the meetings delightfully were quite warm and progressive. Mr. Commissioner, we sincerely thank you.
Also, I must seize this opportunity to appreciate the representatives of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry who have accompanied the Chairman of the Insurance Trade Group of the Chamber, our own Mr. Gboyega Olanbiwoninu to address members on benefits that could accrue to those who offer to join the Business Chamber. It is my hope that members would take advantage of this visit to perfect their membership of this frontline Trade Group.
VALUE ADDITION TO MEMBERS
In a bid to continuously add value to members, I am most delighted to note that the Management Committee has conceived some projects for the benefit of members. Today, I have the honour of presenting Nuggets of the Market Conduct and Business Practice Guidelines (Revised Edition) released by NAICOM to members. The publication is coming as a nugget to assist members apprise themselves with the statutory provisions of the Commission with great ease. Each company would be given a copy for free, while request for additional copies would cost a token. We intend to sustain the tradition of producing or abridging such compliance and regulatory publications into nuggets from time to time for easy of reference by members.
Similarly, it is heartwarming to inform you that the Council is already putting finishing touches to its membership portal that will allow for robust online interaction between the Council and members as well as the production of membership ID Cards which will have imbued into it value that members could derive from the Council. I must also mention that there would also be admission of Fellows this year for qualified and willing members, while plans for admission of Ordinary Members, in conformity with the NCRIB Act is almost concluded.
Let me assure you that the current leadership team would continue to deliver programmes and projects that will enhance the value to members and by so doing making membership of the NCRIB a thing of honour and pride.
NATIONAL ISSUES: As critical players in the socio economic and political development of the Nigerian nation, we cannot afford to turn blind eyes to topical issues affecting our nationhood. Specifically, our Council wishes to express concern over the recent reported kidnapping of 110 pupils of Government Science and Technical College in Dapchi, Yobe State, coming almost 1,407 days after the Chibok Girls were kidnapped by suspected Boko Haram members. We join both the Federal Government and multitudes of Nigerians in condemning the barbaric attacks and urge the Federal Government to intensify efforts towards the recovery of these girls. It is totally condemnable that at a time when the nation has started to accelerate its economic recovery goals that required confidence by foreign investors that this unsavoury news is breaking out in our clime. Our Council wishes to stand with parents of the affected children and pray for the immediate rescue of all of them.
INTERNATIONAL TRAININGS: Since insurance operation is international in nature and operators need to be continually retooled to cope with rapid changing dynamics of the profession, the Council has commenced registration for interested members to attend various international trainings slated for 2018. Those that have taken advantage of some of these trainings definitely have their good stories to tell. Presently, we are taking nominations for FOURTH ANNUAL AFRICAN INSURANCE FORUM, holding at Radisson Blu Hotel, in Johannesburg, South Africa from April 3–7, 2018 with the theme “Thriving in Age of Disruption”.
Most importantly is the BRITISH INSURANCE BROKERS ASSOCIATION (BIBA) Conference and Exhibition holding from Tuesday, May 14 to Friday, May 19, 2018 in Manchester City, United Kingdom. The theme of the Conference is “Innovate Evolve Thrive”. I am delighted to inform you that Management has approved a discount of £200 for the first ten delegates to register for the Conference. The Secretariat would be on hand to attend to further enquiries by willing members.
I must not also forget to state that the AFRICAN INSURANCE ORGANISATION: Conference and General Assembly will hold in Accra, Ghana from May 6 – 9, 2018, while the Council is fully prepared to mobilize attendance for the WAICA Conference which details would be announced soonest.
LOCAL TRAINING: You may attest to the fact that the quality of trainings organized by the Secretariat has improved significantly. These trainings are organized to expose our Members to functional knowledge that are relevant to our day to day business activities. In our bid to ensure better, the Education and Training Committee is working on extension of training opportunities to geopolitical zones where our members are dominant, namely Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu. It is my hope that members in those zones would take advantage of the training when they commence in their regions.
CONCLUSION
Distinguished colleagues, I cannot end my address without expressing my personal appreciation and that of my family for the show of love, affection and comradeship demonstrated to us by all members, and NAICOM which delegation was led by the Commissioner for Insurance during the demise and burial rites of Deji (my younger brother). I really appreciate everyone and wish you well in all your endeavours.
Once again, I thank NEM Insurance team for sponsoring this great Evening, which to my mind has further etched the name of NEM as one of the Broker-friendly underwriters in the country.
Thank you for your audience and do all have a delightful evening.
