West African Insurers Hosts International Conference on Monday

Posted by African Examiner Business News, Insurance Friday, November 22nd, 2013

Kayode Adelowokan, Lagos

The West African Insurers Companies Association (WAICA) has concluded plans to host a three day international educational Conference from November 24 to 26 in Lagos.

The theme of the 2013 WAICA Educational Conference is: An Integrated and Harmonised Insurance Industry in West Africa”.

The Secretary General of WAICA, William Coker, in a press statement said, “The sub regional body is keying into the regional integration efforts of ECOWAS heads of government and insurance as a critical player in the economy must take its pride of place in the scheme of things.”

“If we are promoting the concept of a global village, the insurance industry in the West African sub region needs to be seen as front runners in promoting efforts at regional integration. Charity must begin at home,” he added.

The three day conference will feature presentation of papers by two erudite scholars.

Chairman of Local Organising Committee (LOC), Rotimi Fashola, stated that the Commissioner, Macro-economic Policy, Ecowas, Abuja, Dr. Ibrahim Bocar BA, will give the goodwill message while the Co-ordinating Minister of the economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is expected to give the keynote address and declare the conference open.

The first paper on: “An Integrated and Harmonised Insurance industry in West Africa; The Challenge Facing Integration in West Africa” will be delivered by Dr. Abwaku Englama, Director-General, West African Monetary Institute, Accra, Ghana.

The paper will be chaired by High Commissioner of the Republic of Sierra Leone to Nigeria, Henry Macauley, while the Executive Director, Enterprise Life Assurance Company Limited, Accra, Ghana, C. C. Bruce, and Group Managing Director, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Akin Ogunbiyi, will discuss the paper.

Managing Director of WAICA Re, Abiola Ekundayo, will take the second paper titled: “Insurance Growth in West Africa and the Benefits of Integration.”

Founding father and past president of WAICA, Prof. Jo Irukwu, will chair the paper which will be discussed by the President, Ghana Brokers Association, Rev. Asante Marfo-Akenkora and Past President, WAICA and Managing Director/ CEO, Prime insurance Company Ltd, Banjul, The Gambia, Dawda Sarge.

This will be followed by an open forum which will be chaired by Past President of WAICA and President of Sierra Leone insurance Association, Hon. Hassan Gbessay Kanu.

“We expect and educative and rewarding educational conference. It is yet another opportunity to extend the hospitality of Nigerians to delegates from other parts of the world. I am sure this will be a conference to remember,” Fashola enthused.