Lawal Mijinyawa giving insurance a human face

Insurance in this part of the world is a hard sell because people do not on their own buy policies; they are usually compelled. Given this situation, not many people including professional marketers gladly accept to take a career selling insurance.

When you however find those who despite the huge apathy on insurance services take a career in the industry and excel, then give it to them; they are complete and can achieve greatness in almost every field.

This is the class where Lawal Mijinyawa, the current, executive director, operations of UnityKapital Assurance plc belongs.

As the Executive Director (Operations) UnityKapital Assurance plc, his role and function is a clear manifestation of the values he imbibed and built on over the years. The professional calling has also drawn on his humane character and love for fellow man.

In one article written on his person in recent past, he (Mijinyawa) was described as a model in insurance practice. It is even more so apt to say now, knowing that Mijinyawa is presently championing a paradigm shift in insurance practice and service delivery.

To Mijinyawa, the business of insurance (Cover against Risk/Loss) requires humanitarian interface. His model of insurance service delivery is built on total customer satisfaction. He has perfectly struck a balance (a fair balance at that) between corporate earnings and clients’ satisfaction.

As for him, the corporate gains can only be earned and sustained through enduring value manifestation, in beneficial customer service. A satisfied clientele translates to corporate success.

Add to that practice code is his belief in customer education and enlightenment as fundamental to profitable decision-making, according to Mijinyawa. Therefore, Mijinyawa has committed himself to clients’ enlightenment.

In his capacity as the Executive Director (Operations), he drives the business of insurance from the very heart of it. He leads the engine room of insurance from his company. His humane disposition has endeared him to a large population of people awed by his kindness, love, humane disposition, carefulness and patience.

After his first degree in Mathematics, University of Jos, Mijinyawa engaged himself for an advanced certificate course in Management, at Kaduna Polytechnic. This move was more of confusion to those who didn’t see what Mijinyawa had in view.

To have had to come down to do a certificate course after a degree programme in Mathematics would have been clearly a deft strategic move. He did that, looking back now, to fortify himself for the role, functions, duties and service to mankind, as he presently finds himself doing.

From there, he proceeded to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, for his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree programme, 2000-02 years. Mijinyawa settled for insurance as a profession. Yet, for those who did not share similar vision with Mijinyawa, his choice of profession, considering his academic training, were not too sure what the attraction was. To some, the banking industry would have been more attractive. But the quintessential Lawal Mijinyawa knew where the tide will blow, and where his attraction – “In service To Mankind.”

In keeping with the calling of his chosen profession, Lawal continued learning and studying the profession, Insurance. Today, Mijinyawa holds the following professional certificates: Associate Member of the Nigerian Institute of Management; Associate Member of the Nigerian Institute of Marketing (AMNIM) and Associate Member of Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (ACIIN).

Prior to his joining UnityKapital, Mijinyawa worked with Niger Insurance plc where he functioned as actuarial valuation officer at the Lagos Head office; branch manager Kaduna and regional manager and head of Northern operation, Abuja.

He has written over 12 professional publications to his credit. Well travelled, Mijinyawa has attended various local and international courses both in insurance and outside insurance.