L-R: Dr Pius Apere, Managing Director/CEO, Linkage Assurance Plc in a handshake with Professor Samuel Edoumiekumo, Acting Vice Chancellor, Niger Delta University (NDU) during a Career Talk by Linkage Assurance Plc at the University Campus in Bayelsa State.
Underwriting firm, Linkage Assurance Plc in collaboration with the Niger Delta University (NDU) has commenced moves to harness exceptional talents for the nation’s insurance industry.
The effort is targeted at giving opportunities to students of insurance, actuarial and financial management as well as those in mathematics and engineering sciences to make career in insurance and actuarial profession.
Dr Pius Apere, Managing Director/CEO, Linkage Assurance Plc who led management of the Company on a Career Talk to the university community said insurance industry is in serious need of actuarial professionals, more so that the sector is getting bigger with a lot of growth potentials.
Apere who was received by the Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Samuel Edoumiekumo and the council members of the University at its main campus in Bayelsa State, underscored the commitment of Linkage Assurance to help exceptional students of the institution make career in the industry.
Dr Pius Apere in his paper titled ‘Are You Fit To Be An Actuary’, said Linkage is instituting an annual cash award of N200, 000 to best graduating student in insurance beginning from the 2018 academic session.
Besides that, the company is also offering internship opportunity to 300 – 400 level students of insurance, and opportunity for absorption after graduation.
According to him, Linkage plans to set up an Actuarial Unit in 2018, and best three candidates with Maths, Physics, Engineering or other strong quantitative degrees will be considered for immediate employment.
Professor Edoumiekumo in his remarks thanked Linkage Assurance Plc for the partnership, which he said is a dream come true.
He stated that his administration is committed to enhancing the relationship between the University and industries, in the different sectors of the economy, so that products of the university will have practical experience before they move into the labour market.
Edoumiekumo expressed the determination of the University to provided the needed platforms that give students the opportunity to advance their career while still undergraduates, pointing that what Linkage has done was a long dream that has come through.
Imo O Imo, Head of Strategy, Linkage Assurance Plc in his presentation titled ‘Insurers As Gate Keepers’ explained to the university community on the career opportunities in the insurance industry, while tasking the students to take advantage of this eye-opener to plan their career.
Imo also challenged them to start taking professional examinations while still in school, as that is the only way to make them competitive and candidates of choice in the labour market after graduation.
