The Insurance Industry Consultative Council (IICC) has instituted an award for journalists covering insurance sector in Nigeria.
Chairman of the council, Sir Muftau Oyegunle, made this known at the recently held IICC 2021 Media retreat in Asese, Ogun State, South-West, Nigeria.
According to Oyegunle, the award would recognise one journalist that distinguished himself or herself in the reportage of the insurance sector within a financial year.
He furrher stated that the award would focus on well-researched and detailed write-up on issues in the insurance sector, noting that, such write-up would be developmental in scope.
Oyegunle therefore urged insurance reporters to ensure that they write stories that could clinch the award going forward.
The IICC chairman commended insurance correspondents, who have continued to demonstrate expertise and in-depth knowledge about the insurance industry through their objective reportage over the years.
While noting that one of the mandates of the council was to promote insurance awareness, Oyegunle urged media professionals to use their platforms and the reach they cover to promote the gospel of insurance and its offering.
In his response, chairman, National Association of Insurance and Pension Correspondents (NAIPCO), Mr. Chuks Okonta, commended the council for the initiative, stressing that it would spur journalists to develop interest in well-researched reporting.
He advised other stakeholders to emulate IICC by instituting annual award for journalists who through the year covered the industry effectively.
Mr. Okonta expressed the hope that such steps would improve the quality of insurance reporting and thereby raised insurance awareness and adoption in the long run.
