Minister Commends Mutual Benefit Assurance for Contributions to Sports Devt
Ebere Nwoji
The Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalong, has commended Mutual Benefit Assurance plc for its contributions to development of sports in Nigeria.
Dalong, who made the commendation during the commissioning of 22 canoes/ kayak boats donated to the Nigeria Rowing Canoe and Sailing Federation, noted that Mutual Benefits, had over the years, shown great love and support for the growth of sports in Nigeria.
He observed that the support of the company was not limited to football alone but to Rowing Canoe and Sailing, Badminton and other sports.
He promised that the company that his ministry and the sports industry would continue to work and collaborate with its management and the industry in general, adding that the sport industry needs the support of all sectors of the economy to ensure better life for Nigerian youths across the country.
In his welcome address at the event, the Group Managing Director of Mutual Benefits Assurance, Mr Akin Ogunbiyi, said the company’s brand thrives on making insurance service relevant and value-adding to everyday living.
He said the two drivers of its pioneering entrepreneurial initiatives, which have made Mutual Benefit leader in Nigeria and Africa insurance industry are the drive to bring tailor-made value-adding services to the door-steps of citizens in countries where it operates and to promote a new era of using retail outlets to deliver insurance services to every nook and cranny.
“Our activities in Mutual have created massive employment, empowered citizens by focusing on initiatives to develop the wealth at the bottom of the pyramid also effectively impact positively on rural/urban drift. For instance, Mutual’s marketing and development initiatives led to the employment of over 5000 Nigerian youths and more than 250’within our operations in Federal Republic of Liberia and Niger Republic, “he added.
According to him, the company has not left out sports in its area of creative and value-adding influence and promised to continue to engage the youths in economic development and growth.
Ogunbiyi, took a critical review of Mutual Benefit’s influence and value addition to sports development in the past five years, saying Mutual Benefit, supported the National sports commission, in pioneering the Youth Games in Abuja in 2013.
He said over 4000 participants, between ages eight to fifteen from over 21 states, participated in the programme.
He also said Mutual Benefit, served as the official insurer, for the 2013 Police Games in Port Harcourt , Rivers State, where the company donated the sum of N10 million and provided N 1.5 million Group Personal -Accident Cover for officials and participants at the games.
According to him, the company, paid claims to 10 trauma cases that emanated from the games .
Ogunbiyi, also said Mutual Benefit,donated N256 million Olympic size Badminton Complex sited at the police college Ikeja Lagos as well as sponsored the Youth Demonstration Competition organised by Nigerian Canoe and Sailing federation, Jabi Lake,Abuja .
He assured the Sports Federation and the ministry that the company would continue to support the growth and development of sports in Nigeria within the limit of its ability through collaboration and engagement
