Managing Director of Niger Insurance Plc, Dr. Justus Uranta, said that the company has been embarking on branch expansion drive in a quest to boost Nigerians consciousness towards insurance.

Uranta noted that Nigerians have not really embraced insurance as expected, adding “We have therefore resolved to take insurance to their doorsteps to make them embrace the insurance culture.”

The Niger boss, however, confirmed that the insurance industry has transformed positively in the last 30 years, stating that the positive changes recorded by the industry within this period shows the commitment of both the operators and regulator in spite of the daunting challenges and apathy against insurance business in the country.

Uranta who was addressing senior managers in the company during the 2011 Annual Management Retreat hosted by the company in Lagos recently, said evidences of positive changes abounds in the industry. “In spite of the apathy for insurance by Nigerians for whatever reasons, the insurance industry has come a long way.  Things have changed positively in the last 30 years and those who have been around for sometime now would confirm this,” he said.

Also reflecting on the performance of his company, Uranta observed that notwithstanding the global financial meltdown and its implications, the company still tried to boost staff morale among other things.

“Despite the global fiancial meltdown in the economy and the huge contributions made by the staff in actualising the objectives of the NEST agenda, management decided to incrase the motivation level of the staff by approving the promotion of 128 staff.

“The company embarked on creating additional two regional offices in the north namely Sokoto and Yola, bringing the total number of regional offices to six.

In the same vein, a new brach office was opened in Lekki, bringing to 45 the total number of branches spread across the country,” Uranta stated.