From left: Head, Lagos Control Office National Insurance Commission Farinu Emmanuel; Chairman of Insurance Conference Committee and Managing Director of Scib Insurance Brokers Limited, Shola Tinubu and Vice Chairman Insurance Conference Committee and MD Wapic Insurance Plc, Yinka Adekoya at the event in Lagos.
TEXT OF SPEECH DELIVERED BY MR. SHOLA TINUBU, ACII, FCIB, CHAIRMAN OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE OF THE 2017 NATIONAL INSURANCE CONFERENCE, HELD AT THE CHARTERED INSURANCE INSTITUTE OF NIGERIA, 27 LAGOS STREET, EBUTE METTA ON MONDAY, JUNE 19, 2017
• Members of the Planning Committee of the NIC (Here Present)
• Distinguished Gentlemen of the Media
It is my pleasure to welcome you all to this Media Briefing which is meant to apprise you with activities preparatory to the 2017 National Insurance Conference, holding from Sunday July 9th – 11th 2017 at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
May I use this opportunity to appreciate the media for the support which you have continued to render towards effective reportage of insurance events and particularly the previous editions of this Conference.
You would recall that this edition of the conference is the third in the series to be held since its conception by the Insurance Industry Consultative Council (IICC) which is the amalgamation of all the constituent arms of the insurance industry, namely; The Nigerian Insurers Association; The Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers; The Institute of Loss Adjusters of Nigeria and the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria and NAICOM serve as the coordinating arm. The idea behind the formation of the IICC was actually to give a unified and cohesive voice to the Nigerian Insurance Industry, with a view to making the industry accelerate its impact and contributions to the nation’s economy. The National Insurance Conference is one of those programmes aimed at fostering intellectual and professional development of insurance practitioners and further creating a platform for networking and exchange of ideas between industry operators and critical stakeholders in the nation’s economy. It is most heartwarming that the 2017 Conference is being organized to further underscore the aim of the Insurance Industry to continually upscale the knowledge of insurance operators and other professionals in the financial services sector as well as other stakeholders about contemporary dynamics in the economic development of the country and the globe generally. The Conference would also highlight the catalytic roles which the insurance industry in achieving financial inclusion and by so doing, accelerating its contributions to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.
It is instructive to state that the theme of this year’s Conference: NIGERIAN OPEN FOR BUSINESS is quite apt, in view of the policy direction of government towards the Ease of Doing Business Initiatives, being spearheaded by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) under the Chairmanship of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN as Chairman and the Honourable Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah as the Vice Chairman. Suffice it to state that PEBEC, whose ultimate thrust is to dismantle all inhibitions militating against doing business in Nigeria has been taking commendable well in trying to make the country more attractive for foreign investment. It is my pleasure to applaud the government for the policy direction, especially against the backdrop of the nation’s recessive economy and the dire need for a reversal of the economic trend through the promotion of and exportation of locally produced goods and services. It is noteworthy that the selection of the Conference theme is fitting into the second phase of the Council’s plans in deepening existing reforms, completing and implementing pending initiatives, engaging with the public and validating completed reforms that would kick off medium term reforms. It is quite clear that there is no way any nation’s economy could develop when it greatly depends on foreign made goods.
It is a delight to note that the Ag. President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) is expected to declare the event open while the Hon. Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun will give a Goodwill message, with the Commissioner for Insurance, Alhaji Mohammed Kari as the Chief Host. Suffice it to state that the Planning Committee of the Conference is parading an array of highly resourceful speakers to do justice to the subject of discourse at the event. With the choice of Mr. Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Tony Elumelu Foundation discussing the theme paper, delegates would have a swell time drawing from the speaker’s enormous exposure and experience in the nation’s financial services sector. In view of the topical nature of the theme, the Hon. Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun is expected to be the Chairman of the session while a team of seasoned discussants, notably Dr. Joseph Nnanna; Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria; Alhaji Kyari Abba Bukar, former Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and Mrs. Yewande Sadiku, Executive Secretary of Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission would be discussants.
Similarly, the sub theme: “Doing Business in Nigeria: A comparative Analysis” would be most rewarding. Aside from the enrichment that would be brought on the subject by the former Partner of PWC, Mr. Robert Newsome, the Honorouble Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, Mr. Okechukwu Enelama would be the Chairman of the session. It is hoped that the Minister would bring to the discussion, the pivotal roles being played by his Ministry in ensuring ease of doing business in Nigeria, through PEBEC which he presently serves as the Vice- Chairman.
In a bid to give the insurance industry its desired space in the conference, the theme: “Insurance Industry: Navigating the Odds” is being slated for discussion, with the Group Managing Director of Custodian & Allied Plc, Mr. Wole Oshin as Lead Speaker. The paper would be chaired by Partner and Head of Management Consulting, KPMG, Bisi Lamikanra, while discussants are Mrs. Ekeoma Ezeibe, Managing Director of Crystal Trust Insurance Brokers Ltd; Mr. Tunde Fajemirokun, Executive Director of AIICO Insurance Plc and Mrs. Ebele Nwachukwu, Managing Director of Zenith General Insurance Ltd.
I cannot end my address without noting the desire of the Planning Committee to have a wide spectrum of delegates across all sectors of the nation’s economy in attendance. Towards this end, invitations have been sent to operators from the insurance industry, shipping, oil and gas, maritime, the organized private sector and manufacturing to attend the event.
Once again, I appreciate you all for your presence and use this medium to solicit the assistance in giving maximum pre and post event coverage of the conference.
Thank you.
SHOLA TINUBU, ACII, FCIB
Chairman, Planning Committee (NIC)
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