BY NGOZI ONYEAKUSI

Mr. Tope Smart, Chairman of NEM Insurance Group is the Chairman for the Business Journal Annual Lecture 2024 coming up on Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at the Event Centre, Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) Building, 2-4, Customs Street, Marina, Lagos.
The theme of the Lecture is: Repositioning the Insurance Industry to Drive Sustainable Economic Growth in Nigeria while the Panel Session will evaluate the impact of insurance on key sectors of the Nigerian economy such as local content development, aviation, telecoms, oil & gas, banking etc.
Mr. Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, the Commissioner for Insurance/CEO, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) would be the Special Guest of Honour while Mr. Akinjide Orimolade, Managing Director/CEO, Stanbic IBTC Insurance Limited would be the Keynote Speaker.
Tope Smart, a graduate and an award winner from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), also holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
He is an Associate member of both the Chartered Insurance Institute of London and the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN). Tope, an astute professional, believes very strongly in the entrenchment of insurance in the minds of all Africans.
He is an unrepentant advocate of a better and stronger Insurance Sector in Africa. He is a Council member, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, Council Member, West African Insurance Companies Association (WAICA), Council Member, Nigeria-Britain Association, Member of Senate, University of Lagos, and a past Chairman of the Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA).
Tope is a past President of the African Insurance Organisation (AIO). During his presidency, AIO witnessed phenomenal growth and increased visibility as a result of several initiatives introduced by him.
Tope is presently the Chairman, Alpha Morgan Capital Limited, Chairman, NEM Health Limited, Vice-Chairman, AIO Foundation, amongst others.
In 2014, he was appointed by the Federal Government as Co-Chairman of the Insurance Industry Transformation Committee. He was also recently appointed Chairman, Planning Committee of the University of Lagos Alumni Association’s Golden Jubilee Anniversary.
In recognition of his outstanding achievements, Tope has won several awards among which are Distinguished Alumnus by the University of Lagos, University of Lagos Alumni Association Golden Jubilee Special Recognition Award amongst others.
Tope is the winner of year 2023 (Almond Insurance Industry Award) Insurance CEO of the Year. He is also a two-time winner of the BusinessDay Top 25 CEOs award. He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School.
Commenting, the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Business Journal Media Group, Prince Cookey said:
“Mr. Tope Smart, Chairman, NEM Insurance Group represents a game-changer in the insurance industry in Nigeria and Africa. It is therefore a great honour to have him as Chairman for the Business Journal Annual Lecture 2024.
A consummate insurance professional and industry leader, he has made indelible milestones in the insurance space in Nigeria and across Africa over the decades. He remains a worthy inspiration and role model to current and future generation of insurance men and women in Nigeria and Africa.
More importantly, the management of Business Journal remains grateful to Mr. Tope Smart and NEM Insurance Plc for consistent and unwavering corporate support to the media group over the years.
Our 2024 Annual Lecture is designed to draw critical attention to the expanding role and contribution of the insurance industry towards sustainable growth of the Nigerian economy. The second leg is equally to consider the industry’s impact on various key sectors of the economy.”
Cookey listed the objectives of the annual lecture to include showcasing contributions of the insurance sector in the past 10 years, evaluate the current state of the market, evaluate the current challenges hindering its further growth, evaluate the impact of insurance on key sectors of the economy, identify the emerging growth potential and opportunities and to project the future of the industry in the coming 10 years.
He stated that other guest speakers/panelists for the annual lecture would be unveiled in due course.
The Business Journal Publisher explained that the Business Journal Annual Lecture Series is the contribution of the Media Group to nation-building and critical support for the growth of the Nigerian economy.