Incoming AIO President Highlights Gains of Conference to Nigeria’s Image

Ebere Nwoji
The fourth coming 47th edition of the Africa Insurance Organisation Conference (AIO) and National Assembly, will serve as a forum to market Nigeria and correct negative views held by the outside world about Nigeria and its people, the incoming AIO President, Mr Tope Smart has said.

The conference, scheduled between September 4 to 8, in Lagos, will be attended by 48 member countries of AIO and 10 non African countries.
“We want to use the event to make people who are coming to see that Nigeria is a peaceful country as against their negative perceptions about Nigeria, “Smart said.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, the Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr. Olorundare Sunday Thomas, including other key stakeholders in the Nigerian economy are expected to be at the AIO event.

“We have invited all the key stakeholders in Nigeria. We have invited the President of the country. We have invited the Minister of Finance who supervises the finance sector. We have invited the Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer of the National Insurance Commission” (NAICOM).

At a virtual press briefing to this effect, the Chairman, local Organising Committee of the conference, Mrs Ebelechukwu Nwachukwu, said the theme of the conference is Rebuilding Africa’s Economy: An Insurance Perspective.

She said the conference will enable Nigeria insurers have bilateral discussions with their counterparts from other African countries and beyond.
She said the conference would showcase Nigerian culture and attract patronage and opportunities for different businesses in the country.

She said among those that would benefit immensely from the conference were those into hospitality business, IT business operators among others.

She said because of the impact of the COVID 19, the conference has been planned to accommodate only 600 physical participants while others will participate virtually
“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.

According to her, 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.
She said aside the main theme; there are also four other subtopics to address other contemporary issues affecting the insurers.

These according to her include: 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
According to the LOC Chairman, the committee is working in cohort with the AIO Secretariat and has assembled a strong faculty to deliver the different papers from the main conference theme to the sub-topics.