By Babajide Komolafe
In an apparent bid to get feedback from retirees  on its services, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited met with over  500 of its retirees and customers when it hosted an interactive forum for retirees in Edo, Delta and Ondo states.

The forum held in Benin, Edo State capital,  was aimed at getting closer to its customers and improving their wellbeing, whether in retirement or in active service.The Benin City forum is the 4th in the series this year, and is tagged “Retirees Forum 3”.

Earlier fora were held in Ibadan (South West), Kaduna (North Central) and Enugu (South_East). Similar sessions are planned for Jos, Port Harcourt, Abuja and Lagos.

Mrs. Nike Bajomo, Head of Business Development, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited stated that the interactive sessions are aimed at celebrating retirees while providing a platform for them to share their total retirement experience. She reiterated the PFA’s determination to stand by workers and retirees to enable them plan and enjoy a life of peace and comfort during and after active service.

“These meetings enable us to get feedback from our retirees on how we can serve them better and provides an avenue for updating them on new developments in the pension industry, while at the same time providing a platform for the retirees to network and meet former colleagues and people with similar interests,” Bajomo stated in an interview with the media at the event.

The sessions, which were initiated two years ago, has given the PFA useful insight into retirees’ expectations, and this in part led to an increase in the number of such meetings from three cities in 2008 to seven in 2009, and eight this year.

Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers’ customers from the states for whom the forum was organized turned out in large number as more than 500 retirees where present at the forum.

The customers who took turns to speak at the event during the question and answer session, unanimously expressed delight at their PFA for taking the initiative to put the event together. They thanked Stanbic IBTC for providing the opportunity to interact with their former colleagues as well as creating an avenue for them to access vital information from the dedicated help desk at the forum.

The customers also expressed appreciation for the outstanding service level delivery offered by the PFA and urged it not to relent in its effort.