ZARIA – Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, the Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, said the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) spent N93 million to set up a digital centre for the school.
Mustapha made this known at the inauguration of the centre by the Commissioner of Insurance, Mr Fola Daniel, on Friday in Zaria.
He thanked the NAICOM for the assistance, and pledged the institute’s continues partnership with the commission.
“I thank NAICOM for this support and I am sure that this is the beginning of our partnership.
“I hope that when the faculty is transformed to school of business and relocated to the main campus more support will come from NAICOM,’’ he said.
In his address, Daniel said that one of the responsibilities of the commission was to empower educational institutions offering insurance.
“What we are doing today is not just to assist ABU but to also fulfill an important statutory responsibility.
“Section 19 C of NAICOM Act 1997 stipulates that we must spend a portion of our resources to empower educational institution offering insurance.’’
He said the gesture was also to fulfill government’s quest to deepen insurance penetration, acceptance and awareness in Nigeria.
According to Daniel, the Insurance Faculty at the ABU is one of the oldest faculties that turned out many graduates that were employed by NAICOM.
He said the aim of the commission was not only to provide infrastructure but also an enabling environment for pursuance of academic excellence in insurance.
“In that regard, we are currently sponsoring about two or three of ABU’s PhDs undergraduates to study Risk Management and Insurance and we are desirous to do more.
“We are not going to wait till infinity for other institutions; if they want to be proactive as ABU they are welcomed.
“We have the resources, willingness and support of the governing board to continue to fund the project,’’ he said.
The commissioner commended the school and the contractor for the efforts being made to complete the project at the specified time.
Dr Bello Sabo, the Head of Department and Dean of Business Administration of the school, thanked NAICOM for its donations to the department.
He said the school would be delighted if NAICOM could embark on post doctoral research and fellowship. (NAN)
