Speech of NCRIB President, Rotimi Edu @2022 Insurance Brokers Conference & Exhibition in Abuja

SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE NIGERIAN COUNCIL OF REGISTERED INSURANCE BROKERS, MR ROTIMI EDU, mni, AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 2022 NATIONAL INSURANCE CONFERENCE HELD ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2022 AT THE SHEHU MUSA YAR’ADUA CENTRE, ABUJA.

The Hon. Minister of FinanceThe Commissioner for Insurance Past Presidents of our Council Governing Board members Our Guest Speakers and Discussants Gentlemen of the Media Ladies and Gentlemen It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to the 2022 National Insurance Conference of our Council, holding here at the Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.It is quite auspicious that this Conference is coming up as part of the events lined up to celebrate the Diamond Anniversary of our Council.

Great tributes should be given to all our founders and Living Legends for their unselfish devotion to the sustenance of the Council through thick and thin. From the little and unknown Association of a few professionals shortly after Nigeria’s independence, the Council has grown to the front row of reputable professional bodies in Nigeria, bearing eloquent testimonies to the diligence and determination of our founding fathers and leaders. Suffice to note that there had been chains of events which had been held to make the anniversary memorable.

We’ve had the unveiling of our Anniversary Brand Logo, the Maiden Lawn Tennis Tournament and the Awareness Walk. Also, the Diamond Colloquium held in Lagos themed “60 Years of Insurance Broking: Redefining the Practice and the Practitioners” for which we had the Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Mr Tony Elumelu was grand and well reported. Of equal note was the public presentation of the Anniversary Book and Compendium of Registered Insurance Brokers entitled “Connecting the Past to the future, Redefining the Future” at the Colloquium. The book is impelling reference for all members and the public due to its rich content.

I admonish all to get their copies. Happily, in furtherance of the celebrations, we are here for the National Insurance Conference and Exhibitions of the Council themed “Insurance in the Face of National Security”. The theme for the Conference could not be more apt than now, considering the challenging security situation in the world and the country today. Needless to state that insurance and national security affect each other. There is no way risks exposure which insurance exists to succuor would not be rife in an environment challenged by insecurity.

There are exposures of lives and properties in a period of social commotion and general insecurity, necessitating the need for the public to have a perfect understanding of their roles towards better acceptance of insurance at a time like this. It is an irony that just as we speak, the country’s exposure to activities of criminal elements such as Boko Haram and Bandits have been a continuous threat to our collective peace.

Also, from the news we have been inundated with in the last few days there had been flooding of some parts of the country, leading to destructions of properties, lives and farms and as such posing grave challenges to food security that would have ripple effects on the future of the country. While great kudos should be given to the federal government for its combative roles against all forms of insecurity in the country, more still needs to be done with the cooperation of such strategic stakeholders like our Council and the insurance industry to vitiate this malaise.

We must all realise that sustainable progress could only be accomplished in an environment of peace and tranquility, and as a result, no shade of conversation should be spared in finding solutions to this problem.I am most delighted that the Events Organising Committee (EOC) under its erudite Chairman and Vice President, Mrs. Ekeoma Ezeibe have thought it fit to come up with this theme and also sourced for highly resourceful speakers to professionally handle the subject matter. The Guest Speaker, Retired Air Commodore Dr Stephen Jeff Zanni exemplifies a perfect blend of the two epithets of Security and Insurance, having served gloriously in the Nigerian Army as a strategist and also holds a PhD in Insurance Law.

Without a doubt, we are sure of having a balanced view of the subject matter to the delight of all. Happily, too, we have an array of erudite Discussants in the persons of Rtd General Chris Olukolade, a one-time ebullient Spokesman of the Nigerian Army; Mr. David Akubo, a frontline Insurance Broker and Mallam Abass Idriss, DG of FCT Emergency Management Authority. A combination of the rich thoughts of these erudite gentlemen will make the session quite rewarding. In order to continually drive in the need for innovation through technology for the benefit of enhancement of knowledge of our members, focus was devoted to the sub theme “Driving Business Through Technology”.

The lecture would be delivered by Brett Carazzo of the University of Technology Sydney. It is hoped that delegates would take advantage of the knowledge exchange to better their businesses and adapt to the change that is starring us all in our processes. I cannot end my speech without giving due appreciation to all members for your support and encouragement for the success of this leadership team and our Council. You have all shown perfect understanding and support for the Brokers-Centrism thrust of this administration.

I am sure that whatever the situation we would continue to surmount with cohesion and unity of purpose. As Insurance Brokers, I cannot forget to underscore the desire of the Council to see us all play more ethically and professionally as the most critical segment of the insurance value chain. We would continue to distinguish our service and Council as the “League of Reputable Insurance Brokers in Nigeria”.

Part of this we are already poised to accomplish with the introduction of a professional membership seal for individual and corporate members, just as it is the practice by other solid professional institutions. With your cooperation we shall accomplish our vision. Once again, I welcome you all to this Conference and wish you all a rewarding experience.Thank you.