MD, Consolidated Hallmark, Mr. Eddie Efekoha
By Nnamdi Duru
Demonstrating its concern over the plight of Journalists who risk all odds to ensure that people get to know what is happening across the globe daily, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc (CHI) has offered Reporters covering the insurance industry a group personal accident cover.
The Managing Director of the company, Mr. Eddie Efekoha communicated the resolve of the company to the leadership of the National Association of Insurance Correspondents (NAICO) in Lagos recently.
He also assured that his organisation would renew the cover annually in line with insurance contracts of this nature for an undisclosed number of years.
He said that as a socially responsible corporate citizen, the company is constantly looking at how it could contribute its quota to the nation’s socio-economic development.
“CHI has decided to provide the insurance protection for Journalists bearing in mind that they need protection against the various hazards they are exposed to in the course of carrying out their lawful duties”, he said.
According to him, “beginning from October 1, 2012, any journalists covering activities in the Nigerian insurance industry will be entitled to compensation should they be involved in an accident” under an insurance programme being packaged by his organisation for members of the group.
He said that the management of CHI has arranged a group personal accident insurance for journalists covering the nation’s insurance industry as part of its corporate social responsibility.
The insurance policy, according to him, would pay compensation to the estate of the beneficiaries in the event of death, or to the victim in the case of permanent disability or injuries arising from accidents anywhere in the world.
“The cover is for a limit of N1 million per journalist in the event of accident or injury that may result in death anywhere the journalist may be in the world.
“Any affected journalist is also entitled to N1 million compensation in the event of permanent disability that may impair the performance of his duties and a limit of N200,000 for medical expenses,” Efekoha said.
The CHI boss recalled the death of Enenche Akogwu of Channels Television in a terrorist attack and Mr. Steve Nwosu, Editor of The Sun Newspaper who was attacked by armed robbery suspects recently, saying these unfortunate incidents have brought to the fore, the need to get Journalists adequately protected by way of insurance.
In a related development, Efekoha also assured that Consolidated Hallmark Insurance would continually empower its workforce to meet the challenges of their respective duties and the business environment.
“In recognition of the importance of employees and their contributions to the growth and development of the company, the insurance firm will not relent in the training of staff to improve on their competencies.
“A comprehensive learning and development programme designed to equip technical staff with modern skills is run yearly in partnership with external consultants,” Efekoha stated.
According to him, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance has continued to leverage on its robust ICT platform to maintain its market share and deliver cutting edge services to its customers.