By Adedapo Adesanya
The Governing Board of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) has endorsed the appointment of Mr Tope Adaramola as the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Council.
With his appointment, he is expected to take over from Mr Fatai Adegbenro, who retires from the council in May 2021.
Mr Adaramola, who is currently the Deputy Executive Secretary of the council, joined the NCRIB in 2004 as the pioneer Public Relations Manager.
A 1989 graduate of Political Science and Industrial Relations (MILR) from the University of Ibadan, Mr Adaramola had earlier worked as a reporter with Ogun Radio, Abeokuta; served as Press Secretary to the Government House, Ogun State between 1991 and 1998, from where he joined the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) in 1998 as the second Public Relations Professional to be engaged by the association.
While in the council, Mr Adaramola rose meteorically through the ranks and availed the entire industry his expertise in Public Relations and public speaking for which he was renowned.
He also avails the industry of his writing prowess as a member of the editorial team of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria and the NCRIB and served on several Industry Committees, including the Insurance Industry Consultative Council (IICC). He was the pioneer Secretary of the Insurance Industry Image Committee.
Mr Adaramola is a product of the European School of Protocol, a member of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) where he obtained a professional certificate in insurance and has attended several courses and training in Insurance, leadership and management in Nigeria, Malta, USA, Canada, UK, South Africa and The Gambia.
He is expected to bring his rich social capital and leadership skills to bear in directing the affairs of the Council as the head of the Secretariat.
The precursor of the council was established in 1962 to provide a central organization for the regulation of all practising insurance brokers in Nigeria.
This body got its first legal recognition in 1991 when the Insurance Decree N0 58 of 1991 made it compulsory for all practising Insurance Brokers to be members of this body before being registered by the Commissioner for Insurance.
However, the brokers’ quest for full legal recognition through the acquisition of a Charter did not materialize until 2003 when the National Assembly passed the NCRIB Bill and President Olusegun Obasanjo gave his assent on July 4, 2003.
The name of the body was thereafter changed pursuant of the enabling Act to The Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB). With the signing into law of the NCRIB Act, the insurance broking profession received full legal powers to be able to regulate the practice as a reputable profession, which is an integral professional arm of the Nigerian Insurance Industry.
