Insurers invest in CSR to intensify fight against COVID-19 negative impact
Underwriting firms in Nigeria’s insurance industry initiated plans to invest more in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) particularly in this period of the coronavirus pandemic.
The move is to give back to the society where they derive their profits from as well as enhance governments’ efforts at all levels to stem the spread of virus in communities.
CSR is the commitment of companies to provide resources and support activities focused on enhancing economic and social development, while improving the living condition of the indigents and the society at large without seeking any commensurate monetary benefits.
The basic objective of CSR in today’s world is to maximise organisations overall impact on the society and stakeholders.
Among the few operators leading the pack are: AllCO Insurance Plc, Mutual Benefits, Linkage Assurance, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, NICON Insurance Limited, FBNInsurance, and Anchor Insurance Company Limited.
The Head, Strategic Marketing and Communication AllCO Insurance Plc, Segun Olalandu, said the underwriter has taken CSR as a key driver of the economy, adding that AIICO donated some Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) as part of its CSR programme to the Nigerian Red Cross, Yaba, recently to help Nigerians protect themselves against the spread of the pandemic in the communities.
Stakeholders have lauded the initiative as very timely, coming during the period of restricted movement put in place by the Federal Government to check the spread of COVID-19.
The Managing Director, Sunu Assurance Plc, Samuel Oghenebrume Ogbodu, applauded the deliberate efforts made by the doctors and other healthcare workers in Nigeria and globally to combat the outbreak and curtail its spread.
The Executive Director, Marketing and Brand Operations, NICON Insurance, Debo Oladejo, also extolled all those on the frontline in the fight against the pandemic, particularly the National Emergency Operations Centre led by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control as well as the state governments, who have continued to coordinate response activities as well as strengthen preparedness capacity across the nation.
Professor of Surgery and Provost of the College of Medicine, and Consultant Urologist at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oluwabunmi Olapade-Olaopa, noted that the interventions by insurance operators are very timely, as it addresses the core of what is needed to keep the fight going and enable care for the sick and research on the disease.
Olapade-Olaopa thanked the insurer for its support and commitment towards better healthcare in Nigeria.
