99 Students Graduate at WAII

The Daily Observer (Banjul)

Aji Fatou Faal

12 July 2011

Ninety-nine students recently graduated at the West African Insurance Institute (WAII), marking the Institute’s 32nd annual graduation ceremony.

The theme for this year’s graduation ceremony was: “Excellence in education”. Speaking at the ceremony held at the Jerma Beach Hotel in Kololi, Mambury Njie, minister of Finance and Economic Affairs and vice chairman of the WAII Governing Council, stated that for the past 32 years, the institute has been waxing stronger in its bid to impart knowledge to middle level managers in the insurance industry and in the other spheres of economic life of both students and their respective countries at large.

According to him, education and excellence are both remarkable terms that should also be closely linked. He defined education as the process by which people acquire knowledge, skills, habits, values or attitudes and that it helps people to develop an appreciation of their cultural heritage and live a more satisfied life. He noted that the pursuit of excellence in teaching and scholarship has been their driving force. “We understand that each student is endowed with God-given talents which we nurture and develop and it also gives them the chance to explore a new culture in a cosmopolitan and diverse environment, develop international networks and friendship and enjoy a quality educational experience that would prepare them for their professional and personal success,” he remarked.

Minister Njie disclosed that as part of its corporate social responsibility, the Institute has also awarded scholarships to some students who emerged winners in its annual national essay writing competition for Grade 12 students, noting that the competition was introduced some years ago and that it has been creating awareness on insurance among the secondary school students in The Gambia. He revealed that the set of new graduates like their predecessors have acquired skills of insurance that would in turn affect positively the economic activities of their respective companies and countries. He congratulated them on their endurance in passing through the tunnel of hardship and stress usually associated with studying at the Institute.

He said the new graduates had been equipped by WAII with extraordinary and valuable tools, and that they had been taught how to learn; he therefore advised them to utilize their skills. He thanked the grand patron of the Institute, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya AJJ Jammeh, whom he referred as a father, a mentor, and a pace-setter whose immense contributions cannot be over emphasized. He again thanked him for his tireless contributions to WAII in particular and to the educational sector in general.

For his part, Professor Prince Mike Ikupolati, director general of WAII in The Gambia, gave a brief history of WAII and revealed that the Insitute was established over 30 years ago under an agreement facilitated by the West African Insurance Companies Association (WAICA),which was ultimately signed by UNCTAD and governments of Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia. He further explained that WAII among other things was set up to be a multi-national insurance centre with a full legal personality and financial authority; provide professional insurance education to the personnel of the insurance industry, as well as to serve a supervisory service; serve as a centre for the collection of technical and other insurance data and shall provide technical assistance to member countries on request; and organize research programmes and projects in all aspects of insurance, reinsurance and allied subjects.

According to him, WAII has provided in-house training courses for specific organizations and provided consultancy services for both private and public institutions in the sub-region. He added that it is on record that WAII is instrumental to the growing number of professionals that are currently making meaningful contributions to the insurance industry in the sub-region.

He told the new school leavers that the insurance industry in West Africa is a green field that requires vibrant and highly skilled professionals. He however said the industry has been affected with what he termed as competitive paralysis and that they must therefore begin to think of the “Blue Ocean Strategy” in their marketing approach. He thanked the host country, The Gambia for their support and particularly their grand patron, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya AJJ Jammeh for his continued support and commitment to the growth and development of WAII.

He congratulated the new graduates and wished them a successful career in life as they proceed to various destinations. Certificates and prizes were awarded to deserving graduates and lecturers of WAII.

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