ADDRESS BY MR. KOLA AHMED, DIRECTOR-GENERAL, CHARTERED INSURANCE INSTITUTE OF NIGERIA (CIIN) DURING A PRESS CONFERENCE ON THURSDAY 6TH MARCH, 2014 IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF THE INSTITUTE

 

From left: Director/Head, Membership & Professional Standards Directorate, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) Moshood Akinyemi; Director-General Kola Ahmed and Director/Head, Corporate Affairs, Admin & HR Directorate Joseph Ifeanyi Obah, at the press conference in Lagos.

ADDRESS BY MR. KOLA AHMED, DIRECTOR-GENERAL, CHARTERED INSURANCE INSTITUTE OF NIGERIA (CIIN) DURING A PRESS CONFERENCE ON THURSDAY 6TH MARCH, 2014 IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF THE INSTITUTE

 

Gentlemen of the Press (who I lovingly refer to as members of a powerful constituency) I welcome you to this press conference – the second since I assumed full leadership of the Secretariat.

 

I want to start by sincerely and profusely thanking you for the support and cooperation you have extended to me since my elevation as the substantive Director-General of our revered Institute in November, 2013. I appreciate your contribution and I cherish your support which you have demonstrated by your analysis and reports and by your positive projection of our programmes and activities.

 

After spending exactly 114 days in office (counting from November 12 – Council Meeting) its apt and proper to take stock of how we have fared so far and to enunciate our modus operandis based on our assessment of situation on ground.

 

THE SECRETARIAT AND STAFF MORALE

We have in our short term span on the saddle succeeded in instilling vibrancy and renewed energy in the generality of our staff. We have replaced the culture of gloom and resignation with that of enthusiasm and high morale amongst staff. We have replaced the culture of impunity with that of organized and structured administration. We have streamlined our operations and the reporting line.

 

We have empowered our senior executives and restored their voices and vibrancy, a welcome change in the direction of producing positive and uninhibited results.

 

Members of staff are now more alive to their responsibilities as they now respond to and welcome our customers with courtesy, respect and sense of mission. Staff now know that their appraisal and promotion are merit based as everybody is treated fairly, justly, humanely and equitably without making sacred cow of some and scape goat of others.

 

There is now a renewed sense of responsibility and general resolve among staff to join hands and collectively move the Institute to loftier heights.

 

The Institute now operates a leaner staff strength with a better defined structure and job specification.From a total staff strength of 41 by mid 2012, the Secretariat is now serviced by staff of less than 30. The reduction had been a combined result of many factors from voluntary and involuntary exit and retirements.

 

Gentlemen of the press, permit me to use this occasion to express our appreciation and sincere gratitude to the President and Chairman of Council as well as the entire membership of the Governing Council for the recent approval of a new salary structure for the staff of the Institute and also for approving a number of promotions chief of which were the promotions of three (3) erstwhile deputy directors to full directors. They are: Mr. Joseph Ifeanyi Obah, Director/Head, Corporate Affairs, Admin & HR Directorate, Mr. Moshood Oluwaseun Akinyemi, Director/Head, Membership & Professional Standards Directorate and Mr. Ebun Ayeni, Director/Head, Examinations Directorate.

 

We are also in the process of giving the Secretariat building a face-lift. This is being done in phases. The interior aspect has been completed while we will now turn our attention to the external. This is aimed at enhancing our work environment.

 

SUPPORT FROM MEMBERS OF THE INSTITUTE

We have witnessed an outburst of support and renewed enthusiasm from our members to the Institute’s programmes and activities in the last six months.

 

Members now warmly identify with and openly embrace the Institute’s programmes.

 

This was demonstrated during the Public Presentation of Insurance Textbook for Senior Secondary Schools in Nigeria – a book wholly sponsored and produced by the Institute. The enthusiasm and support demonstrated by members of the Institute was unparalleled. The Institute was able to raise over N6million at the event with many more members coming forward afterwards to identify with the project. To date over N10million has been realized on a project that cost the Institute N4million.

 

We have also witnessed increases in attendance at the institute’s programmes and much more importantly the increased level of interest in and enquiries about the Institute’s various programmes and activities.

 

Indeed all the programmes executed in the last 6 to 8 months from the Professionals’ Forum, to Picnic, Graduation and Awards Ceremony and the recent Business Outlook Seminar have recorded huge successes both in terms of quality and quantity of attendance as well as in their execution.

 

INSTITUTE’S FINANCES

In line with our resolve to promote transparency, accountability and prudent management of resources placed at our disposal, we have in the last few months ensured that the resources of the Institute are judiciously applied.

 

As we speak, the Institute is not indebted to any contractor or supplier as we meet our commitments as they arise. Also in the last 6 months the Institute has committed close to N100million in accelerating the development of the College of Insurance and Financial Management.

 

The Institute has also, following the directive of the Finance and General Purposes Committee of Council, established a sinking fund (Reserved fund) with a combined sum of N20million. The reserve is funded from the surpluses generated by the Institute.

 

The Institute has also received greater support from the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM). We wish to seize this opportunity to express our appreciation to NAICOM under the able and dynamic leadership of Mr. Fola Daniel. NAICOM’s support has gone a long way in reinforcing the institute’s educational programmes more than ever before.

 

DEVELOPMENT AT COLLEGE OF INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

In line with the President’s resolve to reinforce the development of the College of Insurance and Financial Management, construction works had continued unabated. In addition to the Admin/Multipurpose Block, the Restaurant (Sir Olusola Hassan Odukale Restaurant) and three (3) Chalets that were on ground as at May 2013,six (6) new structures had been added with contract also awarded for the construction of four (4) additional buildings which are expected to be completed before the end of April.

 

The 6 additional structures are:

 

1.         50 – Bedroom (All En-suite) Hall of Residence

 

2.         1 Storey 2, 3-Bedroom Senior Staff Quarters

 

3.         4 Units of Chalet

 

The four (4) buildings under construction are 1 – Twin Duplex Rector’s Lodge and 3 additional chalets.

 

These efforts represent an uninhibited commitment towards actualization of the College project and ultimately launching it for take-off before June, 2014.

 

It is pertinent to state that the College Rector, Dr. (Mrs.) YesideAbiodunOyetayo is billed to assume duty in April with the expectation of fast-tracking the initiation of College programmes in the course of the year.

 

Distinguished members of the press we are irrevocably committed to ensuring that these combined developmental action-plan remain on course and that our great Institute becomes a reference point in the comity of global professional bodies.

 

It is my utmost belief that you will continue to partner us as we make these strident efforts in the promotion of insurance education.

 

WAY FORWARD

Permit me to outline the following as we march towards greater days ahead:

 

To boost students’ enrolment for the Institute’s examination

To pursue a more robust and better packaging of the institute’s programmes and activities.

To sustain and improve upon members’ interest and attendance at the Institute’s programmes.

To ensure an enhanced level of confidence in and support for the Secretariat.

To guarantee greater demonstration of Accountability and Transparency as well as greater prudence in the management of affairs of the Secretariat.

To demonstrate greater vibrancy and dynamism in the management of the Secretariat

To sustain and uphold the culture of a disciplined courteous, friendly and efficient workforce that will be continuously alive to its responsibility and committed to the goals and objectives of the Institute.

To continually provide effective platform for proper implementation of the programmes of successive CIIN Presidents’.

 

Let me end by acknowledging the significant achievements of your members in uplifting the journalism profession and to congratulate you for raising the bars of your profession in your individual and collective endeavours.

 

Once again, I thank you for honouring our invitation.

 

Thank you for your attention.

 

Kola R. Ahmed FCII, FIIN

Director-General