‘INSURANCE FIRST’ Policy Adopted by New NIA Chairman, Tope Smart

Mr. Tope Smart, Group Managing Director/CEO of NEM Insurance Plc was yesterday elected the 23^rd Chairman of the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) at its 47^th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos.

L-R: Past Chairman, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Ven Ladipo Ajayi; past Chairman, NIA, Mr Godwin Wiggle; Commissioner for Insurance, National Insurance Commission, Alhaji Mohammed Kari; New NIA Chairman, Mr. Tope Smart; his predecessor, Mr. Eddie Efekoha; a past Chairman, Mr. Wole Oshin, and a past Chairman, NIA, Oye Hassan-Odukale.

In his acceptance speech, Smart said he would adopt a policy of ‘Insurance First’ to lift the business and image of insurance in Nigeria, as well as protect the corporate interest of member companies of the NIA.

“My agenda would be anchored on the basis of Insurance First and NIA First. I promise to lift the image and business of insurance in Nigeria to the next level. We need to leverage on the experience of the industry to achieve the necessary result as well as collaborate with other arms of the insurance industry and relevant stakeholders outside the industry to move our market forward.”

Mr. Tope Smart Chairman Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) — Mr. Tope Smart
Chairman
Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA)

He thanked the Council members of the NIA and the entire insurance industry for giving him the opportunity to lead the Association and the insurance sector in Nigeria. He solicited the support of the industry and other bodies outside the sector to ensure sustainable growth of insurance business in the country.

The new NIA chairman promised to unveil his comprehensive agenda during his formal investiture in the coming weeks.

The NIA is the umbrella body of insurance companies operating in Nigeria.