The Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp) recently held its annual media parley. The theme of this year’s event was “Micro Pension – Challenges and Opportunities.”
The organisation’s media parley is a yearly event with the aim of bringing together correspondents and representatives from online media, radio, newspaper and TV who cover the pension industry to interact with industry players, get answers to questions first hand and clarify specific industry issues directly from pension operators and the regulator.
The Chief Executive Officer of PenOp, Oguche Agudah opened the event by commending the journalists for their efforts in helping to educate the public through their reporting and coverage.
He said, ‘We always look forward to this gathering when we get to have face to face discussions on issues bothering around the industry.’ He also added that this was the association’s first physical meeting with all members of NAIPCO and other media representatives in the sector since advent of the pandemic.
The headline speaker of this year’s event Mr. Dauda Ahmed, Head of Micro Pension division of the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) shared on various aspects of the Micro Pension Plan – a pension plan for persons in the informal sector and its benefits.
The Journalists present had a lot of questions on this topic, especially as it is seen as a growth frontier for the pension industry. The president of National Insurance and pension Correspondence (NAIPCO) solicited with PENCOM and PenOp to leverage on the expertise of its members and reporters in creating awareness on Micro Pension as they can easily target the right audience.
During the press conference, officials of PENCOM were on hand to answer questions from the journalists, bothering on issues relating to investment, benefits, regulation. Micro Pension, etc.
The PENCOM officials on hand to answer question included Mrs Ekanem Aikhomu (Head of Investment Supervision Department); Dr Ehimem Ohioma (Head of Surveillance Department); Mr Salihu Bwala (Head of Benefits and Insurance); Mr Shola Adeseun (Representing the Zonal head of the Western Region).
In his closing, the president of PenOp; Mr. Wale Odutola thanked all media representatives, CEOs of Pension Fund Administrators and representatives from National Pension Commission (PENCOM) for their continued efforts in helping to consistently drive the growth and awareness of the industry.