Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, on Wednesday, charged practitioners in the insurance industry to deepen the penetration of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to the grassroots.
Akeredolu said this at the gala night of the 47th Africa Insurance Organisations (AIO) and investiture of the new AIO President in Lagos.
He said, this was necessary for people at the grassroots to understand the importance and workings of the NHIS.
“One of the major challenges insurers must tackle is how to bring insurance products, especially the NHIS to the grassroots for people to understand.
“People must understand that we are spreading risk and can’t afford it, which is what insurance is all about.
“Full acceptance of the NHIS is what we are battling with, so that many people will buy into it for the benefit of us all.
“I have mandated workers in Ondo state to buy into the scheme and discouraged them not to come to me for help when they have health challenges because that is what the NHIS is meant for,” he said.
The Governor expressed gratitude that Ondo state had produced the new 47th AIO president, Mr Tope Smart.
He noted that the state is proud of Smart for the exploit he is making in the industry, NEM insurance and in Africa.
“We are lucky in Ondo state because we have produced the 47th president of AIO. This shows that we have given the industry a smart practitioner.
“We are proud of you, Smart, and the exploit you did at NEM insurance. You are a good ambassador of our state,” he said.
Akeredolu appreciated practitioners in the Nigeria insurance sector for giving leadership to insurance all over the world and not Africa alone.
In his address, Commisioner For Insurance, Mr Sunday Thomas, expressed optimism that Nigeria would be proud of the tenure of Smart at the AIO, following his outstanding performance in the industry.
Nigerian NewsDirect reports that Smart emerged as president, following the end of the tenure of the outgone president of AIO, Mrs Delphine Traore.
Mr Hassan Mohammed of Sudan bagged winner of the AIO Oil of Fame 2021 award.
Over 600 local and foreign delegates of insurance sector across Africa, physically attended the conference while other participants did so virtually.
The theme of the conference which begun on Sept. 4 was: ‘ Rebuilding Africa’s Economy: An Insurance Perspective