Wale Onaolapo is Insurance Man of the Year

Onaolapo

·         Company bags CSR award

Chuks Udo Okonta

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of one of Nigeria’s foremost insurance companies, Wale Onaolapo of Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc has been named the Insurance Man of the Year for 2013 at the 2^nd edition of the Inspenonline Media Award held at the MUSON Centre in Lagos.

The Award ceremony was attended by a crop of seasoned professionals in the Insurance Industry in the country. Sir Sunny Nwosu, President of the Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), was the Chairman of the Occasion.

Others in attendance included the President of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Ayodapo Shoderu, the past President of the Council and Winner of the 2012 edition, Barrister (Lady) Olaide Osijo and the Managing Director of Riskguard Africa, Chief Yemi Soladoye, who delivered the keynote address at the occasion.

Representatives of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, CIIN, and the Nigerian Insurers Association, NIA also graced the event. Alongside the Award of the Managing Director, the company also bagged the Award of the CSR Company of the year; making it a double for the organisation.

The nomination for the Insurance Man of the Year Award kicked off in late December of 2013, with members of the public voting via the social media. The Award is given in recognition of the individual contributions of Chief Executives of Underwriting Firms, Brokerage Firms and other allied institutions in the Insurance Industry in the country towards the growth and advancement of the Industry, while the Corporate Social Responsibility Award is given in appreciation of the various contributions of Underwriting Companies, Pension Organisations and other Financial Institutions in providing intervention in different regards geared at enhancing and improving the quality of life and infrastructure within the various operating environments in the country.  

The past Winner of the Award, Barrister (Lady) Olaide Osijo described Onaolapo as a rare gem in the Insurance Industry; a very dedicated and reliable professional that you can always count on in any given situation. In her words, “I am not surprised that the recipient of the 2013 edition of the Award is Mr. Wale Onaolapo; for me, it is an honour well deserved; a perfect Gentleman and an Insurance Erudite of very high integrity and professional stance”.

While appreciating the honour bestowed on him, the STI boss thanked the organisers of the Nigerian Insurance and Pension Awards for finding him worthy. He promised that, he would continue in his stride to ensure that the Insurance business in the country earns its rightful place of pride in the comity of Financial Institutions in the country and beyond.

He equally mentioned that the company will not rest on its oars in upholding professionalism and strict adherence to corporate governance while maintaining the position of a responsible corporate entity to further project the industry.                                                                                                                                                   

Also commenting, the Head of Corporate Communications and Brand Management, Segun Bankole described Onaolapo as an astute professional who over the years has demonstrated a high level of professionalism in his career spanning over three decades.

He said Wale is known as a man with great virtues, high competence and an Excellent Manager of both Human and Material Resources that deserved to be appreciated and encouraged. He also informed that the Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc brand is known for its exemplary Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives which are hinged on three pivotal platforms of Health, Sports and the Environment.

“We have been known over the years as being a community development friendly corporate entity and being recognised today for what we love to do is the best encouragement ever,” he said.

He appreciated the organisers of the Inspenonline Awards for the double honours bestowed on the company and equally thanked members of the public for the company’s nomination to victory.

He noted that the underwriting firm will continue to execute pacesetting initiatives to promote the advancement of the insurance industry in the country and beyond.