Chuks Udo Okonta
The Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) has
announced plans for its anniversary dinner and investiture of its 45th President.
A statement by its Director of Corporate Communications, Joseph
Obah, said the 2013 anniversary and investiture dinner billed for Friday 14,
mark the climax of a series of activities scheduled to commence on Thursday
June 13 with the Annual International Education Conference with theme: “The
Nation in Transformation: Repositioning the Insurance Industry” holding at the
Federal palace Hotel, Victoria Island in Lagos.
He noted that the Anniversary Dinner will feature the
investiture of Fatai Lawal as the 54 year old Institute’s 45th President and
Chairman of the Governing Council, adding that Lawal’s ascendance to the
exalted presidency of the CIIN marks him out as one of the few young insurance
practitioners to occupy such position during their career.
He said the journey to the Institute’s presidency, engenders
commitment, hard work and consistent membership of the Governing Council and
that any potential president is also expected to possess outstanding qualities
as well as an uninhibited zest to serve selflessly.
He said: “Lawal was born 52 years ago at 8 Reclamation Road
(now Iga Iduganran Avenue) on Lagos Island to the family of Late Alhaji Tiamiyu
Ajiboye Lawal (the Majekobaje Adinni of Akanni Mosque) of Ibasa Compound
Oke-Ola, Oro, Kwara State.
“He attended Saint Paul Anglican Primary School, Idi Oro,
Lagos and Okeya High School, where he passed his West African School
Certificate (WASC) with Division 1. He proceeded to Kwara State College
of Science and Technology, School of Basic Studies for his “A Levels” which he
passed with distinction in three subjects.
“FK as he is fondly called proceeded to the University of
Lagos to study Insurance and bagged a B. Sc (Hons) Insurance degree in
1983. It was at UNILAG that FK’s leadership qualities started to
manifest.
“He was elected Financial Secretary of the Actuarial Science
and Insurance Students Association (ASISA) and later Vice Chairman of El-kanem
Hall by virtue of which, he became a member of the Students Parliament.
“Notwithstanding his student’s leadership activities, FK
combined his degree programme with the professional examination of the
Chartered Insurance Institute of London and qualified ahead of his class as
ACII in 1984. He returned to the University of Lagos for the Executive
MBA degree from 1987–1989, and also qualified as Fellow of the CII London by
examination in 1990.
“He was subsequently elected Fellow of the Chartered
Insurance Institute of Nigeria in 1992. FK Lawal attended the prestigious
Lagos Business School for the Chief Executive Programme (CEP 13) in 2004.”
He said Lawal was recruited as a professionally qualified
graduate by Glanvill Enthoven & Co. in August 1984 and was posted to the
reinsurance division of the British Broking Firm. And in 1986 the he was
invited to join the Management team of the newly established Continental
Reinsurance Co. Limited as Technical Manager.
“A calculated, ambitious and confident FK joined Continental
Re as staff number one in September, 1986, even before the company was licensed
to transact business. He rose through the ranks to the position of
Assistant General Manager (Marketing) with responsibility for international
business development in East and North Africa.
“FK was again invited to join the Board of Refuge Insurance
Company Limited in June 1993 as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, a
role he performed creditably till 1999. A much sought after FK was again
invited to the Board of Universe Reinsurance Co. Ltd.
“In August 1999 as MD/CEO for a turnaround task, he once
again excelled in this assignment to the admiration of the Board and other
Stakeholders.
“Following the merger of Universe Re, Newline and Sterling
Assurance in 2007, in response to the government consolidation and
capitalization exercise of the Insurance industry, F.K. Lawal became the
logical choice of the Board to lead the new Sterling Assurance Nigeria Limited
as MD/CEO a position he occupies till today,” he said.
F.K. Lawal is married to Kudirat Abiola Lawal and the
marriage is blessed with four lovely and Godly children. He is a father
figure to many nieces, nephews and cousins. He believes in family ties
and participates actively in family programmes.
He is a devout Muslim who takes his religion duties very
seriously. He is widely travelled and takes delight in walk outs, plays
badminton at leisure and enjoys reading and travelling.
He was Past Chairman, Finance and General Purpose Committee,
Chairman, CIIN Secretariat Restructuring Committee, Deputy Chairman Fellowship
Assessment Committee, Chief examiner,
Chairman, College of Insurance and Financial Management Board, Member
examination committee, Deputy President CIIN. Other positions he has held
are Past President, West Africa Insurance Companies Association, Council
Member, Nigeria Insurers Association, Member, West Africa Insurance Institute
Board, Banjul, The Gambia and Director, Waica Reinsurance Plc, Sierra Leone
He is Director,
Golden Capital Plc Director, Golden Securities Limited, Director, Medexia
Limited Director, Kohart Investment Limited, Ambassador, International
Insurance Society Inc., USA Member, Ikoyi Club 1938. He is a quintessential
insurance professional, a reinsurance specialist, and an exceptional manager
with adorable leadership qualities.
He believes strongly in continuing education, always
stressing that ‘nothing is so good that it cannot be improved upon’. He
is good planner, strategist and executor, a team player and amiable gentlemen.
“Lawal’s unfolding term of office is expected to inject a
new lease of life to the Institute’s on-going projects, especially the
construction of the College of Insurance and Financial Management. It has also
been gathered that the Lawal presidency will focus on the theme: “Promoting
Insurance Education in Nigeria”, details of which will be unveiled in his
acceptance speech,” Obah said.
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