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Expert wants Government to Address Real Problem Confronting Insurance

Published

14 years ago

March 22, 2010

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Mr. Sunny Bamidele, managing director of Century Finance Group, has challenged Nigeria insurance operators to rise up to the real issues confronting insurance growth, rather than formulating unrealizable policies that are only good on paper. According to him, it is good to formulate policies but the question really should be weather such can work under the prevailing environment. The finance consultant explained that if insurance must grow here, the efforts must involve government full participation. He stated that over the years, he has studied the situation and identified four main factors affecting the growth of insurance in Nigeria. He said some of these factors that have contributed to the stunted growth of insurance and reinsurance business in Nigeria and even Africa, are economic. Under this platform is the dwindling economy which has led to even weaker currencies, a situation that makes operators unable to compete in a global economy. “For instance, the naira has been so undervalued that where insurance companies in other climes are competing for business with stronger currencies and favourable working environment, Nigeria is still thinking of how to make the public take even insurances that are compulsory under the law.”
Bamidele also identified political instability which he said has eaten deep into the socio –political structure of the nation. He stressed that no economy can develop under an atmosphere of chaos and corruption, adding that the fact that Nigeria has had almost a decade of civilian administration is not enough to think that all is well, He noted that the corruption that has enveloped the system has made a mockery of whatever gains the industry may have had over time. This has seriously affected economic activities and consequently insurance business in Nigeria and even in other African states.
The finance expert stated that beyond these reasons, the greatest problem which the government must address before insurance can thrive in Nigeria is poverty. “Poverty has eaten so deep into the very fabrics of our existence. It is so devastating that the insuring public has very low disposable income such that insurance does not even stand in a vantage position on the scale of preferences of things to actualize,” he said. Besides, a lot of people do not have regular income and access to basic necessities of life, like food, housing and shelter. In a country where religion also plays a part on who takes what insurance, then it is difficult for insurance to thrive here like it does in the developed world. He stated that a large number of the African population do not believe in insurance, owing to some religious reasons as well as ignorance and illiteracy. He condemned a situation where even our modest achievements are sacrificed on alter of fake insurance products and the inability of law enforcement agencies to curb the bad practice. Also, the underdevelopment in Nigeria makes most members of the public to be isolated and remote to insurance services. He opined that “since a larger majority of people live in rural areas where they have no access to regular financial services, where there is apathy towards insurance and financial protection by an average Nigerian and where culture forbids certain transactions, then it may be difficult to expect a drastic breakthrough.” he said. To corroborate this slow and unimpressive pace, Remi Olowude, Executive Vice – chairman of Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) while speaking at a public forum explained that the present situation arose when the majority of enabling laws enacted to facilitate and promote the overall development of the industry came on board. This he said culminated in the emergence of an array of markets which might conveniently be grouped into two major types, the nationalised ones, where the state had monopoly and the mixed markets, where public and private participation held sway. Also, in order to conserve foreign exchange and build local capacity, certain classes of businesses were domesticated.
Olowude noted that the dismal performance of the industry is well-captured by UNCTAD statistics in 2007, which showed that the continent represents 14 percent of the world’s population, while contributing contributes only 1.03 percent to the global gross premium income.
“It is interesting to note that this performance is enhanced by South Africa, which accounted for 93 percent in Life business and over 50 percent in Non-Life business in the year under review. Not only has the insurance industry in Nigeria been unable to develop as in other parts of the world, it has also been unable to measure up to other competing products in the financial services industry within the continent.
“For example, statistics regarding growth in the financial services industry of South Africa, as released by Finscope (a comprehensive national household survey of financial services, needs and usage among all South Africans) in January 2010, showed that in about four years, that is, 2004 – 2008, growth in the insurance industry is dismal when compared with other sectors of the economy.
“The number of people who opened bank accounts, for example, increased by 7million over the period, while only 700,000 people took out life assurance and 200,000 applied for motor insurance. Whereas there were 7.7million cars on South African roads in 2003, only 2.2 million people had motor insurance in 2008.
Bamidele charged operators and the regulators to be innovative and more futuristic in planning their products. He said the type of policies being offered today policies are mostly elitist in nature and do not adequately address the needs of the larger Nigerian population who dwell in the rural areas. The consultant explained that there is too much concentration of marketing efforts in urban environments, while paying lip service to broadening of insurance business. Tracing the root of this backwardness, he said noting that lack of innovation and poor application of technology is part of the problems, early insurers in Nigeria and most parts of Africa concentrated only on the technical aspects of the business rather than developing the total business. Some of the areas which could have been better developed but where ignored include insurance marketing, enlightenment, management and technical aspects. Due to the prevailing poverty in the land, the operators under rated their capacity, as they fled from lucrative risks and concentrated on smaller premium, thus leaving the juicy pie to the foreign insurers.
He also identified that “sharp practices by practitioners who charge low premium rates for some risks and inflate the rates of others because of their perceived belief that insurance is a ‘chop-chop’ business which only collect premium without paying claims.”
“Today, these challenges have been further compounded by the impact of the global financial meltdown, which is threatening the growth and development of the insurance industry. For us to be able to achieve the expected transformation of the insurance and reinsurance potentialities Bamidele stressed that there are a number of immediate issues worth considering. Some of these issues include market capacity, new products development, information technology and human resource development, effective regulation and supervision by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and the Federal Ministry of Finance and to an extent the National Assembly, strict adherence to the principles of corporate governance and good practices as well as sustainable insurance awareness campaign.

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Climate Action Africa Opens Applications for CAAF24 Deal Room

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23 hours ago

April 23, 2024

Ugo Onwuaso

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Climate Action Africa (CAA), a leading advocate for climate resilience and sustainable development, has announced the opening of applications for the Deal Room at the 2024 Climate Action Africa Forum (CAAF24). The Deal Room is a groundbreaking platform that aims to connect high-impact climate innovators in Africa with potential investors seeking to accelerate sustainable solutions.

The CAAF Deal Room is a strategic initiative that aims to create opportunities for innovators in the climate-tech domain focusing on emission reduction, energy, agriculture, transportation, circular economy, and building and construction.

The goal of the Deal Room is to select finalists who will have the opportunity to pitch their innovative ideas and solutions at the upcoming 2024 Climate Action Africa Forum, which will be held on June 19th in Lagos, Nigeria.

The Deal Room aims to boost investments in Africa’s green economy by galvanising a community of innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors to create applicable solutions that can mitigate the challenges of climate change on the African continent.

The Deal Room session will facilitate financing for solutions contributing to the growth and sustainability of Africa’s green economy. These deals may encompass prize money, equity plans, debt financing, mergers and acquisitions, and other investment options.

“Through the CAAF24 Deal Room, we aim to bridge the critical gap between promising climate ventures and the essential resources they need to thrive,” says Grace Oluchi Mbah, Co-founder and Executive Director of Climate Action Africa (CAA). “By facilitating connections between passionate entrepreneurs and dedicated investors, we can collectively unlock the immense potential of climate solutions in Africa.”

The eligibility criteria for applying include:

● The company must be African-owned and operate in any of the 54 African countries.

● It must be a for-profit company, between 1-5 years post-incorporation, post-MVP (minimum viable product), and post-GTM (go-to-market).

● The company should leverage digital technology to deliver its business model.

● Female ownership is an added advantage.

Those eligible to apply include venture capitalists, impact investors, climate tech startups, Green SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), philanthropic organisations, and government representatives.

Following the CAAF24 deal-room will be a post-event accelerator in partnership with the Silicon Valley-based Founder Institute and IDEA Africa. This Africa-wide initiative is specifically designed to further accelerate and enhance support for promising Climate Tech startups and founders who participated in the Deal Room.

The official unveiling of this accelerator will take place at the Climate Action Africa Forum 2024 (CAAF24), marking a significant step forward in driving Climate Tech innovations throughout Africa.

Applications for the CAAF24 Deal Room are open from April 22nd until May 17th. Interested applicants can register at https://deal.caaf.africa/register.

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LCCI Urges FG to Simplify Trade Procedures to Boost Economy

Published

2 days ago

April 22, 2024

Chike Onwuegbuchi

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The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has said that the government needs to simplify and harmonize trade procedures and address bottlenecks in order to boost economic growth in the country.

President of LCCI, Mr. Gabriel Idahosa, gave the charge at a Quarterly media briefing on the State of the Economy yesterday in Lagos.

He said that the government has to create an atmosphere that promotes export growth and competitiveness, which is projected to boost export earnings, raise domestic revenue, improve citizens’ welfare, and increase business productivity.

“We recommend that reforms must include simplifying and harmonizing trade procedures as well as addressing bottlenecks such as port logistics, congestion, and transportation costs. This is expected to position the country as the commercial centre of the region and a springboard into regional value chains,” he stated.

On managing the persistent high inflation, the LCCI president said both monetary and fiscal authorities should focus on the factors driving the inflation rates by tackling the supply-side deficiencies instead of focusing too much attention on the demand-side management.

“We urge the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to continue with its foreign exchange (forex) market reforms with intense discipline, as the high exchange rate against the naira is a major driver of the skyrocketing inflation rates.”

Idahosa acknowledged the improvement in the naira exchange rate in the last few days, moving towards the level of N1000 per dollar or lower.

“CBN needs to sustain its policy and regulatory reforms in the FX market, adopt policies that would attract more FX inflow into the economy as well as build market confidence in the performance of the FX market,” he added.

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Dufil Takes Donation of Indomie Noodles Cartons to Vulnerable Communities in Abuja and Environ

Published

4 days ago

April 20, 2024

Chike Onwuegbuchi

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In line with its commitment to provide critical support to indigent members of communities around the country in the face of the ongoing economic challenges, Dufil Prima Foods Limited, makers of Indomie Instant Noodles, in partnership with Golan Helps Abuja Food Bank Initiative (GHAFBI) and Meluibe Foundation on Wednesday, April 17 distributed Indomie noodles cartons to vulnerable communities in Kuje and Kubwa Local Government Areas in Abuja.

With the goal of alleviating hunger and supporting communities across Nigeria, Indomie Instant Noodles has committed to donating a substantial quantity of noodle packs to various NGOs working tirelessly to address food insecurity.

These organizations play a crucial role in reaching remote and underserved areas, ensuring that nutritious meals reach those who need them most.

“We are deeply committed to making a positive impact in the communities where we operate,” said Olusola Olayinka Idowu OON, former Permanent Secretary, Budget and National Planning, and the CEO/Founder of GHAFBI.

“At GHAFBI, we believe that everyone deserves access to wholesome and nourishing food. Our partnership with Dufil Prima Foods to donate Indomie Noodles packs is a big step towards addressing food insecurity and supporting vulnerable communities in Abuja”, said Idowu who was also the former National Conveyor, UN Food System Dialogues in Nigeria.

Speaking in the same vein, Obialunanma Nnaobi-Ayodele, Executive Director, The Meluibe Empowerment Foundation, expressed her gratitude to Indomie Noodles for the partnership. “Our vision as an NGO is to change the world one step at a time, by providing relief and support to vulnerable communities.

This is achieved through collaborations and partnerships, one of which is what we have done with Indomie Noodles. We remain grateful for their support through this food relief initiative”, she said.

By partnering with NGOs, Indomie Instant Noodles works closely with local leaders and community heads in directly engaging with rural communities to distribute noodle packs and provide immediate relief to families facing hunger and ensuring that food assistance reaches those who are most in need, especially in hard-to-reach areas.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with NGOs and community leaders to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people facing food insecurity”, said Temitope Ashiwaju, Group Corporate Communications and Events Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Limited. “Together, we bring hope, love and relief for all”.

The community leaders and some of the beneficiaries also expressed their immense gratitude to Indomie for the support, stressing the impact the products donated will have in alleviating hunger in their communities.

Speaking at the outreach centre, His Royal Highness, Muhammed D. Jibril, Community Leader of Gbazango Community in Kubwa Local Government Area said: “I am very grateful to Indomie Noodles for coming to our aid in these challenging times. I pray for more expansion and growth for the business and may God bless Indomie Noodles”.

Other communities who benefited from the product donations include Wunmi, Tondo, Godoji and Shazhi communities in Kuje Area Council of Abuja.

Dufil Prima Food’s donation of Indomie Noodle packs underscores its commitment to corporate social responsibility and its dedication to supporting communities in need. By providing essential food relief, Dufil Prima Foods is contributing to the well-being and resilience of vulnerable populations in Nigeria.

Indomie Instant Noodles remains dedicated to bringing joy to mealtimes and making a positive impact in communities around the world.

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