NIA DG resumes, amid high expectations to drive growths

The Director-General, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), has resumed work, even as all eyes are on her to take the underwriters’ body to lofty heights.

The DG, Yetunde Olubunmi Ilori, who took over from Olorundare Sunday Thomas, who was appointed Deputy Commissioner for Insurance, Technical, at the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) in April this year, has a lot to contend with in order to keep the Association together throughout her tenure.

Having successfully steered the affairs of Axa Mansard Insurance Plc, which is one of the beacon of lights in the industry, she is expected to work together with her colleagues to see that the industry surmounts the enormous challenges presently confronting it.

Amongst the issues she needs to align with her council to tackle include: the proposed construction of a new secretariat; take off of the Nigerian Insurance Industry Portal; expansion of the coverage of Nigerian Insurance Industry Database; dismantle the monster of rate-cutting; improve industry brand identity and poor insurance penetration.

According to her, the shoes left behind by her predecessor is not an over-size, as she would work with her council members to sustain and improve the existing standard laid by past leaders.

Ilori has over 32 years’ experience in the insurance industry and is expected to bring to the Association her industry wide experience, which has seen her take up many active roles and appointments during these past years.

A 1984 graduate of Actuarial Science from the University of Lagos, the newly appointed DG/CEO is also a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, and an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute, London.

An alumnus of the Advance Management Programme of the prestigious Lagos Business School, she has served the insurance industry in Nigeria and the African continent in many capacities.

She represents the Nigerian insurance industry on the African Insurance Organisation Life Committee (AIO). She is the Chairperson of AIO Life Committee, which has the sole mandate of building capacity in the area of insurance and pensions across Africa.

She was also the Chairperson of the Life Offices Committee of the NIA from 2004 to 2012, and Chairperson, Governing Council Advisory Committee on Life Insurance, with a mandate to provide guidance to stakeholders on key strategic issues and decisions within and outside life assurance and annuity related matters.

Ilori was the chairperson of the 2016 National Insurance Conference Planning Committee, which was adjudged as highly successful in all ramifications.

Prior to her appointment, she was the Deputy Chairman of the NIA, and represented the industry in inter and intra regulatory negotiations as well as in its interface with other stakeholders within the industry.

At CIIN, she served in four committees and a member, Governing Board of the College of Insurance and Financial Management; she is the Chairman, Academic Committee, and Lecturer at the College.

Ilori is also a member of the Professional Insurance Ladies Association (PILA). She has attended many courses/conferences both locally and internationally.