Insurers explore opportunities in regional market

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

 

    

Chuks Udo Okonta

·         As Lagos hosts WAICA educational confab  

The West African Insurance Companies Association (WAICA) has concluded plans to host a three-day international educational Conference in Lagos next week.  

The 2013 WAICA Educational Conference with the theme: An Integrated and Harmonized Insurance Industry in West Africa” will provide an avenue for the insurers to explore ways to tap into the huge business opportunities in the West Africa sub-region.

The event is billed for November 24 – 26, at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.  

The Secretary General of the WAICA William Coker said “The sub regional body is keying into the regional integration efforts of ECOWAS heads of government and insurance as a critical player in the economy must take its pride of place in the scheme of things.  

 “If we are promoting the concept of a global village, the insurance industry in the West African sub region needs to be seen as front runners in promoting efforts at regional integration.  Charity must begin at home.”

He noted that the three day educational Conference will feature papers which will be presented by two erudite scholars.  

According to the programme of events released by Chairman of Local Organising Committee (LOC), Rotimi Fashola, Commissioner, Macro-economic Policy, Ecowas, Abuja, Dr. Ibrahim Bocar, will give the goodwill message while the Co-ordinating Minister of the economy and Honourable Minister of Finance, Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is expected to give the keynote address and declare the Conference open on Monday, November 25.  

The first paper of the conference will focus on: “An Integrated and  Harmonized Insurance industry in West Africa; The Challenge Facing Integration in West Africa” will be delivered by Dr. Abwaku Englama, Director-General, West African Monetary Institute, Accra, Ghana.  

 The paper will be chaired by His Excellency, Henry Macauley, High Commissioner of the Republic of Sierra Leone to Nigeria while Messrs. C. C. Bruce, Executive Director, Enterprise Life Assurance Company Limited, Accra, Ghana, and Mr. Akin Ogunbiyi, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, will discuss the paper.  

Managing Director of WAICA Re Abiola Ekundayo, will take the second paper titled: “Insurance Growth in West Africa and the Benefits of Integration”.  

Founding father and past president of WAICA, Prof. Joe Irukwu, will chair the paper which will be discussed by President, Ghana Brokers Association Rev. Asante Marfo-Akenkora, and   Past President, WAICA  and Managing Director/ CEO, Prime insurance Company Limited, Banjul, The Gambia Dawda Sarge.  

This will be followed by an open forum which will be chaired by Past President of WAICA and President of Sierra Leone insurance Association Hassan Gbessay Kanu.

“We expect and educative and rewarding educational conference. It is yet another opportunity to extend the hospitality of Nigerians to delegates from other parts of the world. I am sure this will be a conference to remember”, Fashola enthused.