College of Insurance and Financial Management produces 18 diploma graduates

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Chuks Udo Okonta

The College of Insurance and Financial Management (CIFM) has awarded Diploma in Insurance to 18 graduates of its 2024/2025 academic session.

The graduation ceremony which held today at the College in Asese, Ogun State, was graced by top insurance executives, family and friends of the graduates.

Chairman of the day, Ambassador Godson Echegile, congratulated the graduates, whilst urging them to deploy the knowledge acquired in growing insurance practice.

He also tasked them to esteem competence, stressing that insurance as a business can only yield better return on investment to investors, when there are competence personnel.

The Special Guest of Honour, Group Chairman NEM Insurance Plc Tope Smart, congratulated the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) Council and the Board of the College of Insurance and Financial Management for the remarkable achievement.

Smart who was represented by the Executive Director NEM Insurance Plc, Adeyemi Mayadenu, noted that placing the college on the global ivory tower alongside prestigious institutions such as Lagos Business School and University of Lagos Business School, is a giant stride indeed. “This is only the beginning of greater accomplishments in the history of the college, and the entire team deserves our applause for this visionary project. I am truly pleased to witness the fruits of this initiative, which is well-aligned with the college’s objectives.

 
“We all agree that the era when professionalism was given little importance for executive roles in the insurance industry is long gone. With the dynamic nature of regulatory requirements, there is now a heightened emphasis on professional certification as a prerequisite for leadership positions in the insurance sector,” he said.

He submitted that in today’s world, technology has transformed the globe into a connected village and integrated various professions into a unified ecosystem, noting that the insurance industry must therefore be agile enough to embrace cross-disciplinary professionals to maintain its active participation in the global economic ecosystem. “This is where the Executive Insurance Professional course plays a critical role—it equips both new entrants and existing professionals transitioning from middle management to top management or the C-suite with the requisite skills and certifications,” he posited.

The NEM Chairman encouraged the management of CIFM to intensify efforts towards creating awareness about the noble course, stating that building robust partnerships with insurance companies should be a priority.

He maintained that just as many organisations send their middle managers and management staff to Lagos Business School as part of their professional development plans, similar collaborations can be forged with CIFM for the Executive Professional courses.

Such partnerships, he said would increase participation and add greater credibility to the program. “Additionally, it may be prudent to review the curriculum periodically, ensuring it incorporates best global practices in teaching, learning, and operations to keep it relevant and impactful,” he said.

He noted that it is imperative for the college to expand its reach beyond the insurance sector, stressing that every economic sector benefit from insurance knowledge, and professional certification in this field enhances risk mitigation capabilities and deepens understanding of insurance products among partners outside the industry.

“Therefore, the college should actively target professionals from sectors such as oil and gas, banking, agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and others. Their participation will not only elevate industry recognition—similar to the stature of ICAN—but also broaden insurance brand awareness across Nigeria and internationally,” he posited.

He commended the exceptional efforts of President Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria Mrs. Yetunde Ilori; the Chairman of the CIFM Board Committee, Akinjide Orimolade; and most importantly, the Rector of the esteemed College, Dr. Chizoba Ehiogu.

He urged the college to sustain the excellent work, noting that it is not only contributing meaningfully to professional development but also making history for future generations.

To the new graduates he said: “You are not merely holding certificates—you possess professional certifications that define executive leadership. If you have yet to do so, begin to think like executives, act like executives, and carry yourselves as true executive professionals from this day forward.

“Be proud ambassadors of this college, wherever your journey takes you. Uphold its values in ethics and professionalism and be advocates, who encourage others to pursue this invaluable knowledge,” he posited.

Guest Speaker, Chief Executive Officer AIICO Insurance Plc, Babatunde Fajemirokun, while speaking on the theme: ‘Strategic Leadership: Overcoming Challenges, Harnessing Opportunities’ congratulated the graduates and charged them to be strategic agents.

He implored them to apply the knowledge they have acquired and ensure they align with changing trends in the insurance practice.

President Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria Mrs. Yetunde Ilori, congratulated the graduates and implored them to leverage the opportunities provided by the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025 to advance their career.

Chairman College of Insurance and Financial Management Akinjide Orimolade, said the College has continued to live up to expectations of the founding fathers, while charging the graduates to be good ambassadors of the College.

He commended all that have being supporting the College, whilst calling for continuous supports toward moving the College to lofty heights.

Rector of the College Dr. Chizoba Ehiogu, stated that the college has continued to run with the vision of the founding fathers, noting that that the College would continue to bridge the knowledge gap in the insurance and other financial sectors.

She maintained that the NIIRA 2025 has thrown up the need for more professionals in the insurance industry.

She implored insurance companies to upscale the knowledge based of their employees through the College.

“Today, we are graduating 18 professionals from the 2024/2025 academic session, and we currently have 20 students enrolled in the 2025/2026 academic session. Moreover, admissions are ongoing for the 2026/2027 academic session,” she said