SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE NIGERIAN COUNCIL OF REGISTERED INSURANCE BROKERS, BARRISTER LAIDE OSIJO,

SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE NIGERIAN COUNCIL OF REGISTERED INSURANCE BROKERS, BARRISTER LAIDE OSIJO, FCIB AT THE INVESTITURE OF NEW EXECUTIVES OF THE LAGOS AREA COMMITTEE HELD ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

Members of Governing Board here present

Distinguished Guests and Invitees

My dear colleagues

I am most delighted to be invited as the Special Guest of Honour at this important occasion which is the change of baton in the leadership of the Lagos Area Committee of the NCRIB. Let me register my admiration for the good and orderly conduct of this Area Committee in all its endeavours. Assuredly, the Area Committee have through its  continuous improvement and resourcefulness maintained a leading position in the company other Area Committees of the Council. Let me also use this medium to appreciate the support which the national body has received from your Committee  since my assumption of office. Through this support we have been able to record these modest achievements.

You may recall that one of my agenda of office is to bequeath formidable Area/ Committees for the Council. This is informed by the realization that most of our practitioners are domiciled at the grassroots and any attempt to reach them effectively must be done through these platforms. In furtherance to this, I have personally visited all the Area Committee across the country and ensured that a new breath of life was given to them all. It is most gratifying that report from these committees are a clear testimony of my assertion. I am sure they will not relent even after the expiration of my tenure as President.

It is definitely an auspicious time for me to place on record the pragmatic feats of the out- going executives, under my good brother, Tunde Oguntade. I am always personally delighted at the boundless enthusiasm and resourcefulness of the Area Committee which I must confess served as a great tonic for me to perform brilliantly in office. It is heart-warming that the outgoing EXCO demonstrated remarkable commitment and team work, without which they would not have been able to achieve any significant feat. My prayer is that the good lord will continue to guide you in all your endeavours.

To the new EXCO, the performance of the outgoing team, of which some of you were members should be the minimum bench mark for your performance in office. Since leadership is a continuum, you must see to it that you sustain those good programmes that were initiated by the out going team and even strive to surpass them in all dimensions. Also, you must bring on table progressive programmes that will make the Area Committee retain its position as a frontline Area Committee. The tempo reached by the Area Committee has made it uneasy for any of you to play lazy. You must be on your toes and be resourceful at all times, to justify the confidence reposed in you by your members.

Dear colleagues, let me use this medium to remind members that the insurance broking profession is today being confronted by numerous legal and regulatory challenges that warrants that all operators play according to the rules of the game. The era when the environment was conducive for unethical practitioners is gone for good. The NCRIB has now become a professional body that is poised to be noted for highest degree of professional conduct and ethical standards. The campaign to flush out charlatans must begin at the level of the Area Committees who are best positioned to do so, given their grassroots operation. I still look forward to official reports being made by you of unregistered companies operating in your jurisdictions. It is regretful that the unenviable name earned by the industry was due to the unchecked mis-demeanour of some bad operators in our midst. This is one charge that the new EXCO must take seriously.

Also, let me use this medium to remind the new EXCO to complement the national body in the dissemination of information to their members. For instance, as it was earlier disclosed, the month of April has now been approved by the Governing Board as the period for publication of the of the Council’s financial members in the press, in consonance with the law. The implication is that any company that has not paid its subscription and other statutory fees to the Council before this time would not have its name published. It is hoped that you will take this information seriously.

Once again, let me commend the new executives for their success at the polls and challenge them to see their position as that of service. It is noteworthy that whether it is leading a nation or a professional group like yours, leaders constantly face challenges that require them to remain focused, towards achieving their vision. To remain single minded, you also require a strong determination or will power, which is the hall mark of leadership. You must constantly play as a team and eschew divisive tendencies. I wish you well in office.

I thank you all for listening.

Barrister Laide Osijo, FIIN, FCIDA, FCIB, PRESIDENT/ CHAIRMAN GOVERNING BOARD