Kano State has been tasked to keep on course the insurance partnership termed ‘golden opportunity’ to assist people when they need it most and for the financial services sector to also increase financial inclusion.
The Commissioner for insurance Mr. Sunday Olorundare Thomas, who gave the charge today at the sensitisation programme for top functionaries in Kano state on implementation and enforcement of compulsory insurances in the state said the benefits of insurance to the government and people of kano state are numerous and urged all to embrace insurance, taken particular note of takaful and microinsurance, the later for small businesses.
Emphasising the importance for insurance purchase, Thomas shifted the responsibility to all, saying “We must let every one around us know that insurance is something you buy when you seem not to need it because it will be too late to buy when the unforeseen occurs and you may regret not buying it.”
After endorsing the state’s development of insurance culture, he implored the state government to always factor insurance whenever it is considering disbursement of funds either to farmers or traders in its poverty alleviation programmes. It is only with insurance that the government can guarantee business sustainability and evolving of funds for the future thus providing a safety net for the NMSMEs against unforeseen circumstances while securing millions of jobs and wealth creation.”
He also tasked the state to consider the issue of collapsed buildings that have continued to be one of the problems in our big and major cities. Putting Kano on the spot, “The state agencies that approve and monitor construction should be given mandate to look into this matter and collaborate with other agencies like the Town Planning Authority, Fire Service, Police etc and relevant professional associations like COREN some of which should be co-opted into the committee.” He offers reason for this, “This will ensure that provisions of the law regarding the insurance of public buildings against 3rd party liability and all buildings under construction that are above 2 floors are strictly adhered to.”
NAICOM boss while inflating the Commission’s admiration of the insurance interest shown, advised the state government to lead by example “by ensuring that it adequately protects its assets and liabilities by affecting appropriate insurance covers.”
Responding, the Governor Ganduje represented by the Secretary to the Kano State Government, Alh Usman Alhaji, said it is the intention of the state government to partner with the Commission to earn the benefits derivable from the full implementation of the compulsory insurance policies. This he said is already demonstrated by the establishment of technical committee to midwife and sustain this.
More so , he said the choice of Kano is attestation and recognition of Kano’s strategic position in the socio economic development of the country. This milestone he stressed, would be a launch into steady and sustained embrace of insurance in all facets of human endeavours.
