Insurers set for AIO conference

The 47th Conference and Annual General Assembly of the African Insurance Organisation (AIO) will hold in 10 days.

The event, last held in Nigeria 21 years ago, will take place at Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The hybrid event, is expected to attract dignitaries from the government, insurance; foreign and local investment world; Information and Communication Technology (ICT); and media, among others.

Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC) of AIO 2021, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Nwachukwu, at a  virtual press conference, said the AIO conference was scheduled to hold last year, but did not hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said: “We need to emphasise that in planning this conference at this time we have taken full cognizance of all the health protocols and restrictions on public gathering, hence the decision to make it a hybrid event.

“To give further impetus to this decision, we are limiting the number of physical attendees while others are being encouraged to take advantage of the virtual conference toparticipate from their different locations. For physical attendees, all COVID-19 protocols will be observed and implemented to the letter.”

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Mrs. Nwachukwu maintained that the LOC had followed the template provided by AIO Secretariat in planning the conference.

She thanked the Commissioner for Insurance, Olorundare Sunday Thomas, for ensuring that the organisers got the support of the government.

“The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning has also been very supportive of our efforts, and we owe her a lot of appreciation for the letter of comfort, which was the first requirement from AIO as proof that we have the support of the government to host the conference,” she said.

According to her, one of the major highlights of the conference would be the assumption of duties by the immediate past Chairman of the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) and Group Managing Director of NEM Insurance Plc, Tope Smart, as the next president of the pan-African organisation for the next one year, adding that he deserves the support and good wishes of operators.