• The Commissioner for Insurance, Mr O.S Thomas
• The Guest Speaker, Mr Shonubi M. Olayemi FNIQS
• The Chairman of the Session, Mr Tunji Adeniran,mni, FNIOB
• Members of the Governing Board here present
• Esteemed delegates
• Ladies and Gentlemen
It is my greatest pleasure to welcome you all to the 2023 National Insurance Brokers Conference and Exhibition of the Council holding here today.
The National Conference is one of the epochal events of the Council held yearly which brings together insurance operators and strategic stakeholders in the economy for them to dilate on any chosen issue that are germane to the growth of the industry and capable of advancing national economic development.
Permit me to deeply appreciate the resource persons who have accepted to do justice to the subject of discourse as well as use this medium to appreciate the management of International Energy Insurance (IEI) for electing to be the major sponsor of this great event. There is no doubt that “IEI” has continued to extend the frontiers of its cordial relationship with the Council through its Brokers-friendly gestures such as this. These gestures would translate more into enhanced bottom line for the company and held catapult the company to the pride of place it deserves in the comity of notable underwriting companies in the country.
Being the last Conference to be presided over by me as 21st President of this Council, it gives me a great sense of fulfilment to look back and appreciate the high level of cooperation that me and my team were given in the course of this tenure to accomplish the set Brokers Centric focus. There is no doubt that through the various programmes undertaken in the course of the tenure, we have been able to raise the bar of professionalism and placed the insurance brokers brand in strategic quarters in the country, and even abroad. Among other things, with the commencement of usage of the Council’s professional seals, the line has been drawn clearly between recognised professional operators and charlatans, curing one of the menacing problems of the broking practice and insurance operations generally. It is just a matter of time for the positive effects to begin to show for all to see.
Most hearty for me is the theme of this year’s conference which is “Insurance & the Building Industry: Forging a better synergy”. This theme is apt as it addresses the bogging problems of non infusion of insurance content into the uptakes of professionals in the built environment. Unlike overseas, the synergy between the built professionals and insurance industry is nonexistent, to the grave disadvantage of the two divides as well as the public that engage their services. We are all living with the stories and challenges of building collapses all over the country, leaving scores of Nigerians dead while properties running into billions of naira ruined. These are ordinarily risks that could have been taken up by the insurance industry within the provisions of the extant insurance law. But as the saying goes that it’s better late than never, this conference is another bold step in broaching this desired relationship between the two sectors. With the calibre of resource persons that I have seen here today, I have implicit assurance and confidence that several issues would be thrown up while profound discourses and decisions reached at the forum would be great trajectories for us to move forward in this regards as a nation.
I cannot conclude my speech without appreciating all members again for the support and love shown towards me in the course of my tenure, despite some besetting challenges which the Almighty God has turned into stepping stones for our corporate greatness. I love you all and wish everyone a delightful and resourceful conference.

ROTIMI EDU,mni, FCIB
PRESIDENT & CHAIRMAN, GOVERNING BOARD