Unveiling Plans, Benefits Of AIO 2021 Confab Holding In Nigeria Sept 4-8
AIO’s LOC Chairperson, Mrs Ebele Nwachukwu
The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the African Insurance Organisation (AIO) recently unveiled the plans for and also listed the benefits of the annual conference and general assembly of the Pan-African Organisation conference billed for Lagos, Nigeria, EDET UDOH Reports.
The Local Organising Committee of the African Insurance Organisation (AIO) has concluded plans for the hosting of the 47th edition of the Organisation’s conference and general assembly.
The event which was initially planned for last year but was postponed as a result of the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) is now billed to hold this years in Lagos, Nigeria from September 4 through 8, 2021.
The African Insurance Organisation (AIO), established in 1972, is a non-governmental organisation recognised by many African governments.
The theme of this year’s conference is “Rebuilding Africa’s Economy: An Insurance Perspective.”
Speaking at the virtual press conference to inform the public about the conference as well as unveil plans and programmes of the event recently, the Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee, Mrs Ebele Nwachukwu, expressed LOC’s preparedness to ensure a hitch-free and successful conference.
Major highlight of the event, according to the LOC chairperson, is the inauguration of the immediate past Chairman of the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) and the Group Managing Director, Nem Insurance Plc, Mr. Tope Smart, as the President of the Pan-African Organisation, who will pilot the affairs of the organization for the next one year.
Apart from enumerating the modalities put in place to ensure a successful hybrid event, the LOC Chairperson also listed the inherent potentials of the AIO conference for the industry in particular and the economic advantages for the host country, and its citizens in general.
She commended the government, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and other partners for their supports.
According to her, “As you are all aware, Nigeria hosted the conference about 21 years ago and it is to the credit of the past leadership of the Association and the leadership of other arms of the insurance industry that we have the honour of hosting this 47th edition of the conference.
“This conference was scheduled to hold last year but due to the covid-19 pandemic, the AIO Secretariat in conjunction with the Local Organizing Committee decided to hold it this year as a hybrid event to cater for those who will not be able to attend physically.”
She emphasized that “in planning this conference at this time we have taken full cognizance of all the health protocols and restrictions on public gathering, hence the decision to make it a hybrid event.
“To give further impetus to this decision, we are limiting the number of physical attendees while others are being encouraged to take advantage of the virtual conference to participate from their different locations.”
For physical attendees, she said “all covid-19 protocols will be observed and implemented to the later.”
She said the LOC has carefully followed the template provided by AIO Secretariat in planning the conference and assured that the LOC is prepared to host the best and most memorable conference.
“We thank the Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Olorundare Sunday Thomas who has been working assiduously and liaising with the various ministries and agencies to ensure that we get the full support from the government.
“The Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning has also been very supportive of our efforts, and we owe her a lot of appreciation for the letter of comfort which was the first requirement from AIO as proof that we have the support of the government to host the conference.
Inauguration of Tope Smart as AIO President
“One of the major highlights of the 47th Conference is that the immediate past chairman of the Nigerian Insurers Association and Group managing Director of NEM Insurance Plc, Mr. Tope Smart will assume office as the next president of the pan African organization for the next one year and he deserves our support and good wishes,” she said.
She said the need to address the debilitating effects of COVID-19 pandemic on many economies warranted the decision of the LOC to take advantage of the conference to discuss how insurance can contribute to rebuilding the economies affected by COVID-19 pandemic.
“There is no doubt that Covid-19 pandemic had left in its trail, very debilitating effects on many economies and there are efforts at addressing these challenges. This informed the decision of the LOC to use the opportunity of the 47th AIO conference to contribute to discussions around how insurance can contribute to ongoing efforts at rebuilding economies seriously impacted by the pandemic.
Sub-topics/discussants
Apart from the theme of the conference, “Rebuilding Africa’s Economy: An Insurance Perspective,” other sub-topics to be examined at the conference to address other contemporary issues affecting the insurance industry are:
- The new normal: How leaders can reset for growth beyond covid-19;
- Regulation, innovation and the future of insurance
- Harnessing the potential for growth and development in the Nigerian insurance market
- AfCFTA and the African Insurer: Prospects and Opportunities.
The LOC, working in cahoots with the AIO Secretariat has assembled a strong faculty to deliver the different papers from the main conference theme to the subtopics listed above, and the resource persons include:
- Mr. Jakkie Cilliers of the Institute of Security Studies, South Africa
- Mr. Mr. Belhassen Tanat of Munich Re
- Mr. Yinka Sanni, Standard Bank Group and
- Mr. Tawiah Ben-Ahmed of Metropolitan Life Insurance, Ghana.
Media Centre/appeal for support
On media centre for the press, it was agreed that the LOC will liaise with the leadership of NAIPCO to make sure that adequate arrangements are made to provide a media centre for the press during the conference.
“There is no plan to restrict the press. I think provisions have been made for the press to attend. The publicity is well timed. This press conference it the beginning of the whole activity and you will see the hype going on very soon and we will sustain that momentum and make sure that the whole economy knows what is going on. So be rest assured that that plans will take off following this press conference.
“As our partners in the business of insurance, we see this conference as yet another golden opportunity to showcase the insurance industry and we trust that you will give this press conference, the preparations and the entire conference the publicity it deserves,” Mrs. Nwachukwu said.
Expected Number of Delegates
“The plans we have is to accommodate 600 physical attendees. We have the hall capacity that can sit over 2000 people. But because we want to maintain sitting arrangement in line with existing COVID-19 protocol, we are only going to allow 600 people to physically attend the conference.
“We are expecting participants from all over Africa. So many people registering across Africa will actually attend virtually because we must strictly adhere to COVID-19 protocol. We are monitoring physical registering and also leaving the middle for those who will be coming a little bit later. For physical attendance, we will make sure that we adhere to COVID-19 protocol as required by law by ensuring that we do not exceed the number of people that should be in the hall at every point in time.
The virtual conference is planned to be as seamless as possible, and those who will be attending virtually will feel the impact of the event just like those who are attending physically.
The collaboration between the physical and virtual will be quite seamless. We have structured it in such a way that you will not feel that it is actually a hybrid conference and there are activities plan to ensure there is no dull moment during the conference.
Logistics
The issue of logistics is well taken care of – movement from different hotels to the venue of the conference and back.
On traffic from various hotels accommodating the delegate to the venue of the event, we will work with relevant agencies to ensure free flow of movement.
Conference Document
“We are working hard to have this kind of document available. The Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) is currently working with member companies on 2020 financial reports so for us to have the document available during the conference.
Government Support/Attendance of Government Functionaries
Insurance industry’s project is a Nigeria’s project. We have put some bodies together, we have sponsors from insurance industry both local and global – the conference is being funded by both global and local insurance industries. We have not asked government for any funding so far. We expect government dignitaries to be in attendance and some have confirmed their availability during the various programmes of the conference – some at the opening ceremony, some at the dinners. We will have significant government participation in this conference.
Benefits of AIO Conference for Nigeria and Nigerians.
Mr. Nwachukwu said AIO conference will also include the Life Seminar and all related activities, stating that “hosting this AIO conference is significant to us in more ways than one.
She added, “Apart from the opportunity to showcase our rich culture and hospitality, it will also be a great opportunity to correct some of the misconceptions about Nigeria and her people.
“We have the opportunity to showcase Nigerian hospitality; we will have the opportunity to showcase the Nigerian rich cultural heritage; We have plans to take the delegates around Lagos and other places of interest where they can purchase items of interest such as artifacts and other made in Nigeria items; Hotels business will receive a boost as delegates are expected to stay in hotels during the conference.
“All these are going to contribute to economic activities in the country and for the fact that we are hosting at all, is really going to add value to our industry and gives us the opportunity to showcase that insurance is strong enough and as I said we will do that through the number of foreign presence we will be having in the country during the conference, LOC Chair added.
Also speaking on this issue, the NIA Chairman who is also the Group Managing Director, Cornerstone Insurance Plc, Mr. Ganiyu Musa, noted that even though it is insurance industry event, there is a lot of multiplier effects not only for insurance operators but also for other services providers.
According to him, beyond insurance operators, you will have service providers to the insurance industry across Africa that will also have the opportunity to pitch their services and their products..
“You will have technology services providers, such as Insuretech; Fintech who is really on the cause of something “Great Nigeria” they provide a lot of services that are complimentary to insurance and a lot of them are expected to participate in the conference by setting up a kiosk during the event to strike partnership such that at the end of the day will bring investment into the country.
“The benefit of the event will go beyond the insurance but both insurance and all services around insurance will be impacted.
“They will take stand to display their products and services, hold bilateral discussions, strike partnerships both short and long term. It is something that is expected to be significant in terms of impact, both immediately and for several months in Nigeria after the conference is over,” he added.
Lessons as Chairperson of AIO LOC
There are many lessons – One is that when there is need for the insurance industry to have an event, there is commitment from all the member companies and we always put up a very good appearance and this is evident in the participation and the contributions that come from all insurance companies and also come from regulator so that we can have a successful conference.
Another thing that I have learnt in the course of being in this position is how much AIO wants all of us as member countries to work together and how the AIO Secretariat also supported our planning in Nigeria. And how the insurance industry globally, across Africa too, supported and sponsored, and also doing everything possible to be part of this conference whether virtually or physically have been very impressive. So we are one industry that really want to showcase ourselves and always put up best performance at every point in time when there is an opportunity for us to do so, Mrs Nwachukwu said.
