NIA Set For Investiture Of Mr. Tope Smart As 23rd Chairman

L-R: Mr. Lanre Ojuola, Director of Operations, Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA); Mrs Yetunde Ilori, Director General, NIA; Mr. Segun Omosehin, Chairman, NIA Investiture Committee/ Managing Director/CEO, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc; Mrs Bimbo Onakomaiya, Committee member & Managing Director/CEO, Peak Thrust Insurance Brokers Ltd, and Mr. Jide Orimolade, committee member/Managing Director, Law Union & Rock Insurance Plc, during the pre-investiture press briefing on Mr Tope Smart as the 23rd NIA Chairman by the investiture committee held in Lagos on Friday.

By LOVETH AZODO, Lagos.

The Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), is rounding off preparations for the Investiture of Mr. Tope Smart as the 23rd Chairman of the association on 12th September, 2018.

Mr. Smart was emerged as the NIA Chairman on 12th July, 2018.

Smart, who is currently doubling as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NEM Insurance Plc and NIA Chairman took over the operations of the NIA from the Managing director of Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc, Eddie Effekoha at the association’s 47th Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Announcing this today, at the NIA Secretariat, the Chairman of the Investiture Committee and the Managing Director, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Mr. Segun Omosehin, noted that Tope Smart emerge as the Chairman of the association in a critical time when the industry genuinely needs a transformative leader to move to the next level.

Profile of the new Chairman shows that Mr. Tope Smart was born 14th April, 1964, he had his primary education at St. Silas primary school, Ekiti State and his secondary education at Community Grammar School, Ekiti State

He is an Insurance graduate and an award winner from the University of Lagos (1987) is also an Associate of both the Chartered Insurance Institute, London (ACII) 1990 and the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (ACIIN) 1991. He holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka 2000.

A seasoned Underwriter and Marketer, he started his Insurance Career with the firm of Everyman Insurance Brokers, Abuja in 1987. The Management of the Company later discovered the abundance of talent in him and was recommended to head the Abuja Branch of the firm but he left for Nigerian-French Insurance Company Limited in 1989 in order to widen his experience.

While there, he served the company in various capacities and rose to the position of Head of Marine Unit before leaving for Perpetual Assurance Company Limited as one of the pioneer management staff in 1991. He became the Assistant General Manager (OPERATIONS) of the Company before leaving to team up with Vigilant Insurance Company Limited as the General Manager/Chief Executive in 1995 and was later confirmed Managing Director of the company in 1997. With the successful completion of the recapitalization exercise in 2007, he was appointed the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the new NEM Insurance Plc, a position he held until April, 2009

Mr. Smart is currently the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Group, following his increased responsibilities and the company’s expansion into the West African Sub-region with the successful registration of NEM Insurance Company (Ghana) Ltd, a subsidiary of the Group in May, 2009.

He has attended many top professional courses in Insurance and Management.

According to Omosehin, the investiture ceremony will be graced by some big shots in likes of Executive governor of Ondo state, Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu Commissioner for insurance, Mohammed Kari and other dignitaries. The event will be chairman by of event is prof Pat Utomi

The NIA is the umbrella body of insurance companies operating in Nigeria.