By Precious D. Freeman
The African Association of Young Insurance Professionals (IYP) Liberia has launched the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) to the Liberian Insurance Industry.
The association aims to promote attraction and retention of new talent by grooming future leaders and ensuring that they share passion for the continued growth of the Liberian insurance market.
Speaking at the occasion the YIPs Country Director, Jeromie Bannie, said that they have come a long way standing on the shoulders of the older generation of insurers.
According to him, the event wouldn’t have been possible without the older generations of insurers, and that they have laid the foundation on which they are working on today.
“It is within this context that I would like to remind my colleagues that we are not reinventing the wheel, instead we are picking up from where the great minds before us have left it or is leaving it,” he said.
Quoting a Zimbabwen politician, he said, “Don’t be pushed around by the fears on your mind, be led by the dreams in your heart.”
He said this quote has persuaded him to walk on the path to achieve bigger things, noting, “The best part is that we are achieving it together as an industry. Those that left out will be those who choose to live in the past other than embrace the progressive and hopeful present and future and forgetting to know that history may not be so kind to them.”
He said the African Association of Young Insurance Professionals is proof that the dream to ensure continuity in insurance within the West Africa and Africa at large has come to a reality.
He however encouraged young professionals in Liberia to rally to the call to professionalism, integrity, leadership and innovation, adding that they all should join hands in making this dream come through.
“I ask for unity and love among us, let’s bus work together to move our industry forward as we make history today,” he pleaded.
Bannie appreciated all of their partners including the WAICA for giving them the platform upon which they launched the Liberian chapter in 2022, the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) and the Liberia Insurance Association (LIA) and all their bosses for gracing the occasion with their presence and financial contributions.
For his part, the Director of YIP Odesola Ibraheem said the Liberian chapter, under the direction of YIPs Africa, is dedicated to attracting and retaining young and talented professionals in the insurance industry across Liberia, thereby providing a platform for rigorous continuous development of their business relationships through regular educational and networking events.
He said that their scope of activities includes, creating a network of young insurance professionals for the purpose of exchanging information and ideas.
“Providing platforms for continuous career growth, professional are development and learning for young insurance professionals through conferences, seminar among others, is also one of the scopes of our activities,” he said.
Mr. Ibraheem emphasized that CIIN is a professional membership Institute for the Nigerian Insurance Industry, and that the institute vision is to help groom “World Class” talent for an “International Industry” by promoting skills development and professional conduct among members.
He maintained that the institute’s professional examinations have become the take-off board for outstanding professionals who have progressed to distinguish themselves in their various endeavors.
“With great effort of the YIP in Africa, the CIIN examinations are now available in Liberia being spearheaded by YIP Liberia Chapter and the examinations conducted in collaboration with Cuttington University Liberia,” he said.
However, the President of the Liberia Insurance Association, Saye D. Gbalazeh said that transition is important and very necessary because it is not just mere ambition but something for the folks who are just coming in because it begins with a present.
Mr. Gbalazeh congratulated the young people for organizing such occasion being the first kind in Liberia, and also advises them to keep it up in order to move forward.
He advised the youths should not put money at the forefront of whatever they are doing, but be steadfast in their engagements with an attitude of commitment, professionalism and integrity.
“It is not that I’m a perfect man in the world but I’m a man who have used several opportunities that come my way and have gotten blessed by them.”