By Rosemary Onuoha
The Association of registered Insurance Agents of Nigeria (ARIAN) said the war against fake insurance agents is a big war and it will continue to work in conjunction with NAICOM to ensure that the perennial societal problem of fake agents was eradicated.

The President, ARIAN, Mr. Kingsley Obuvie, disclosed this during the association’s annual conference in Lagos.

Obuvie also disclosed that over 3000 insurance agents have been certified by the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria.

He said, “Over 1,000 agents got the National Insurance Commission’s license, while over 3,0000 agents got certified with CIIN, we have also strengthened our mutual relationship to enhance agency growth and deepen insurance penetration.”

He also noted that the agents, who were members of the association were now 600.

According to him, the downward review of the membership registration fee from N15,000 to N2,000 helped to boost the association’s membership.

During the meeting, Kingsley was relected as the association’s president, while Miss Ikeji Chijindu and Mr. Olamerun Gbadebo were elected as vice president and general secretary respectively, for 2011 to 2013 session.

According to him, the association has participated severally in NAICOM’s programmes, seminars and workshop especially in the Market Development and Restructuring Initiative project.

He expressed his satisfaction at the reduction of agency license from N1,500 to N1,000, which had helped more people to register, as they now see it more as a career.

The ARIAN boss pledged the commitment of the association to fighting the war against fake insurance in the industry.

Kingsley also said that the association will continue to work as a taskforce to assist NAICOM in indentification of the earring agents for NAICOM’ s prosecution.

He said, “We will help to develop people’s interest in insurance profession by partnering with NAICOM to run unemployed graduate seminars and workshops whenever the need arises.”