From Anthony Nwachukwu, Lagos
The Class 1989 Alumni Association of the University of Lagos Actuarial Science and Insurance has called for more involvement of women in insurance and financial sectors in order to deepen their penetration in both segments.
President of the association, Dr. Henry Ationu, said that a sure way to deepen insurance penetration and financial inclusion in Nigeria is to increase women participation in the provision and use of financial services.
A practitioner and scholar, Ationu, who is also the founder and promoter of Heat Finance and Investments Ltd, spoke in Lagos during a press conference for the association’s symposium and award ceremony.
The event was organised in honour of a member of the alumni association, Prof. Sunday Adekunle Aduloju, who has just been elevated to the position of Professor of Insurance and Risk Management at the university.
Ationu listed other factors that would promote financial inclusion as regulation, technology and financial literacy, adding that one of the objectives of the association is to assist in promoting and developing the practice of insurance and risk management in the country.
The key paper at the event, titled, “Insurance and Financial Inclusion: Developing Insurance Products for the Informal Sector”, was delivered by Dr. Biodun Adedipe.
At the symposium, which drew attendance from across the academia and insurance and financial services industry, were the Director-General of the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Mrs. Yetunde Ilori, and President of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Mr. Edwin Igbiti.
Others included the Deputy President, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Mr. Tunde Oguntade, and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Sunu Insurance, Mr. Sammy Ogbodu.
From the academia were the Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences, Prof. Emmanuel Oyatoye, Head of Department, Actuarial Science & Insurance, Prof. Hamadu Dallah, Prof. Rasheed Ojikutu, Prof. Iyiegbuniwe, and the Coordinator of UNILAG Business School, Dr. Folake Olowokudejo, among others.
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Maiduguri Market Fire: Buhari calls for strict vigil
By Chesa Chesa
Following an outbreak of a major fire incident which has razed the popular Maiduguri Monday Market, President Muhammadu Buhari has called for vigilance as winds and rising temperatures increase the risks of fires in forests, homes, public buildings and markets.
The President, who expressed grief over the destruction caused by the early morning fire on Sunday, said the nation’s prayers and condolences are with the hardworking traders and their families who have reportedly saved very little or nothing from the fire.
President Buhari commended the immediate response of the Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum’s government to the incident and directed effective coordination and collaboration between federal and state agencies to bring needed relief to those who are affected.
The President urged the state and federal agencies responsible for fire management to strive towards higher levels of preparedness, mitigation efforts and strengthening their response mechanisms to deal with the increasing menace of market and other fire disasters.
