WAII Holds 30th Graduation Ceremony

The West Africa Insurance Institute (WAII) last Friday held the 30th graduation ceremony of its Diploma and Certificate level students, at a ceremony held at the Jarma hall of the Kairaba Beach Hotel.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs and the Chairman of the governing council of WAII, Mr. Abdou Colley told the graduates that the founding fathers of WAII had a dream to establish an institute where required human capacities for the insurance industry in the West African sub-region are trained at management level.

Minister Colley noted that they are happy that after 30 years of existence, the institute is not only providing manpower for the insurance industry alone, but also for the entire financial sectors within the sub-region, such as banking, law, accounting, marketing, among others.

According to the Finance and Economic Affairs Minister, “WAII is offering great opportunities to the youths to improve themselves by encouraging relevant, proper and sound education in all areas of our economic endeavour”.

He also expressed optimism that by virtue of the quality of education offered at the institute, the students would after graduation impact positively on the organisations they represent.

He added that the institute is ever ready, able and willing to contribute to the manpower development of not only the sub-region but Africa as a whole.

Minister Colley noted that governments and organisations within the sub-region are yet to fully tap from the potential and benefits of the training programmes and other useful services available at the institute. He assured the graduates of his government’s continuous support, both in terms of financial resources and legal background for easy operations.

For his part, the Director-General of WAII, Dr. Price Mike Ikupolati disclosed that WAII was established over 30 years ago under an agreement facilitated by the West Africa Insurance Companies Association (WAICA), signed by the governments of Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia.

Dr. Mike stated that WAII, among other things, was charged with the responsibilities of becoming a multi-national insurance centre, with full legal personality and financial authority.

He noted that WAII has also provided in-house training courses for specific organisations, as well as providing consultancy services to public and private institutions in the sub-region.

According to him, his institutes is determined to contribute effectively in promoting the socio-economic development of the member countries by producing sound middle level insurance professionals, that’s capable of providing excellent services and conserve the needed foreign exchange for the sub-region.

Established in 1973 for the development of insurance in all its ramification in the sub- region, WAII was founded by four West African countries, namely Nigeria, Gambia Liberia and Sierra Leone.