Ebere Nwoji
The new President of Institute of Loss Adjusters of Nigeria (ILAN) Ralph Opara, at his investiture as the 10th president of the statute said his tenure will be preoccupied by four key tasks aimed at improving the welfare of the institute and its members.
These, he said include training of loss adjusters; establishment of the institute by an Act of the National Assembly; improving on the relationship with other arms of the insurance industry and establishment of a reference library in loss adjusting and related disciplines.
Opara said in pursuing the above projects, he also hopes to build on the strides made by his predecessors.
According to him, his administration would oil the relationship between the institute and the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), since it is obvious that the institute cannot make enough progress without the support of the industry’s regulator.
On relationship with other arms of the industry, he maintained that 90 per cent of the businesses undertaken by loss adjusters come from the underwriters; hence, the relationship will be enhanced. He noted that the same hands of fellowship would be extended to the brokers; agents and leadership of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN).
“I have had cause to visit the library of a few educational institutions that offer insurance and related courses and it is lamentable that there are virtually no books on insurance on their library shelves. If that is so for insurance, what then for loss adjusting that is relatively unknown.
During my tenure, I intend to improve on the quantity and quality of books in ILAN library on various disciplines that are of relevance to insurance,” he said.
He disclosed that ILAN is already discussing with the Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusting (CILA) of the United Kingdom on the library project, adding that he hopes that by the end of his tenure in 2017, there would have been sufficient reference books to attract the interest of academic researchers and journalists.
Earlier, the chairman of the event, Chief P. C. Akujobi, lauded members of the institute for conducting themselves well in executing their businesses. He urged the President to continue on the foundation put in place by his predecessors.
Executive Director, Leadway Assurance Limited, Adetola Adegbayi, who delivered the investiture paper, entitled: ‘The Role of Loss Adjusters within a Challenging Economy and Insurance Environment’, urged loss adjusters to go beyond their duties to educate the public on the need for insurance.
She noted that the adjusting business would thrive when more people embrace insurance.
