TEXT OF ADDRESS BY FUNMI BABINGTON-ASHAYE, PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN OF COUNCIL, CHARTERED INSURANCE INSTITUTE OF NIGERIA DURING THE INSTITUTE’S 2017 GRADUATION AND FELLOWSHIP AWARDS CEREMONY HELD ON WEDNESDAY 10THDECEMBER 2017 AT TEN DEGREES EVENT CENTRE, OREGUN, LAGOS STATE.
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❖ Past Presidents of the Institute
❖ Distinguished Governing Council Members
❖ Distinguished Guest Speaker
❖ Successful Graduands and Fellowship Awardees
❖ Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

It affords me great pleasure to be here today on the occasion of the 2017 Graduation and Fellowship Awards Ceremony of our great Institute. Today marks yet another milestone in the annals of the Institute and in the continuing quest of our Governing Council in growing the Insurance Industry human capital, as well as ensuring that only fit and proper persons are entrusted with the onerous responsibility of practicing Insurance in Nigeria.

Let me assure you that the responsibilities conferred on the Institute by statute have continued to engender a robust platform for the propagation of insurance education in Nigeria. In particular, the Institute’s professional examinations have become deep-rooted and have, for 25 years, produced home-bred professionals who have continued to perform creditably in their various endeavours, creating value by deploying their expertise in risk management, efficient underwriting and the promotion of enterprise by helping to indemnify businesses and individuals against loss.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, the Institute’s recent endeavor has been the promotion of Insurance Education and Awareness with the aim of attracting the younger generation to the profession. We have takendeliberate steps to enlighten the public about the invaluable benefits of insurance, introduce initiatives that will help to reposition the profession and industry as well as enhance its contributions to nation’s gross domestic product (GDP). It is my belief that the new Associates and Fellows we are celebrating today will effectively contribute their quota to achieve this initiative.

As I welcome all graduands, awardees and distinguished guests to this year’s graduation and awards ceremony, I feel elated by the growing enthusiasm for the acquisition of professional insurance qualification. This fact is not only evident today by the growing number of qualifiers but also translates to an abiding consciousness in embracing professionalism in the business and practice of insurance.

Permit me to reiterate the fact that the men and women who today find fulfillment in the attainment of our invaluable professional qualification, are also accepting greater burden of responsibility as custodians of the ethics and codes of practice of our noble profession. They will be constantly reminded of the oath of allegiance to their professional calling as well as their vows to be of good conduct at all times. And to the recipients of the Institute’s Fellowship Awards, I wish to state that being conferred with the Institute’s highest professional honour comes with a higher level of responsibilities. Expected from you is the highest level of professional and personal conduct particularly in situations where our identities as ambassadors of the Insurance profession and of the Institute are concerned.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, today’s graduation and awards ceremony follows the Governing Council’s ratification of the award of the Institute’s Fellowship to Six (6) deserving members and the election of One Hundred and Seventy-Five (175) members as Associates of our great Institute after satisfying the stipulated requirements. Please be informed that the Institute possesses the power to appropriately discipline any Associate or Fellow that has been found to have been involved in any conduct unbecoming of am Insurance professional.

As I end this address, I wish to inform you that the challenges facing the industry in this dispensation not only require a new impetus in human capital development but also a renewed vigour and approach to skills recreation in order to equip practitioners for the huge tasks of managing the new and emerging realities in the business landscape. The Institute in response has concluded a review of its professional examinations syllabus which shall become operational very soon.

I wish to conclude by congratulating the Fellowship awardees and the graduands for their achievements. These attainments deserve commendation and celebration which explains why we have in our midst, the relations and friends of the graduands. You are all welcome.

Thank you for your attention and God bless.

MRS. FUNMI BABINGTON-ASHAYE FCII, FIIN
President/Chairman of Council
Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria
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