Chartered Insurance Institute steps up for increased awareness, market penetration, HR development
Funmi Babington-Ashaye led Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) has stepped up strategic initiatives targeted at increased awareness about insurance, market penetration and human capital development for the industry.
Tied to her five point agenda with the theme “Insurance- Imperative for Education and Enlightenment”, the 47th President of the Institute says her drive is anchored on five pillars – Regular Advocacy; Members’ Continuing Professional Development; Enhanced Insurance Awareness; Continued Efforts On Institute’s Buildings and And Reorganisation Of The Secretariat.
Speaking to journalist at a press briefing in Lagos to mark her first quarter in office, Babington-Ashaye said the Institute is presently on a drive to achieve an additional 3,000 members for the Institute within the next one year.
She noted that pursuant to attaining the set target, she led a delegation of the CIIN to visit the Commissioner for Insurance in Abuja on the September 12, 2017 and that after the deliberations, the Commission graciously promised to issue a guideline that will compel all staff of Insurance Institutions in Nigeria to register as members of CIIN. This will go a long way in achieving our set goal, she said.
She maintained that that the Institute is presently working with the University of Lagos, to introduce an Executive Master’s Degree programme in Insurance and Risk Management which will be structured like the programme of Cass Business School (CBS), UK. She added that on successful completion of the CBS Master programme in Insurance & Risk Management, for instance, its graduates are usually eligible to predetermined exemptions from both the CII UK and Nigeria qualifying examinations.
“This also facilitates the attainment of the Chartered Institute Advanced Diploma of both UK & Nigeria. Our desire is to replicate this programme in partnership with the University of Lagos for the benefit of our members.
“The University of Lagos Team in conjunction with the institute and Rector of the College of Insurance & Financial Studies are presently working on the content of the proposed MSc Risk Management and Insurance Programme. Also, a series of top level meetings are been held by all the key stakeholders to fashion out the best possible modalities for the programme,” she said.
Ashaye noted that the institute had taken the insurance awareness campaign to the youths, the leaders of tomorrow. According to her, our desire is to catch them young and imbibe in their consciousness the crucial roles insurance plays in human endeavours.
“As part of this initiative, the Council has developed a roadmap to drive the Institute’s proposed partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Accordingly, the Institute has established contacts with the national headquarters of the NYSC, the Lagos, Ogun and Oyo state chapters to intimate them of the CIIN’s Catch-Them-Young Initiative.
“The pilot edition of the programme will kick-off at the Lagos state NYSC Camp during the November 2017 Orientation Exercise which starts today where a career talk will be organised for the benefit of Corps members. To facilitate continuous information dissemination, a CIIN Enquiry and Help Desk will be on ground throughout the duration of the orientation exercise.
“This initiative, which is designed to help attract young Nigerians into the insurance profession, will be replicated and sustained in other states of the Federation until it achieves a national spread,” she said.
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