The President, Institute of Loss adjusters of Nigeria (ILAN) Reginald Egbuniwe, has expressed worry over the few number of females in loss adjusting field and pledged to work assiduously to correct the anomaly by liaising with the Professional Insurance Ladies Association (PILA).
Egbuniwe, who disclosed this in an acceptance speech delivered at his investiture yesterday in Lagos, noted that presently, the institute has only two female members.
“In my years as a Loss Adjuster, I have noticed a scarcity of females in this field. This has often been attributed to the demanding nature of the job when one considers traveling at short notice, being absent from the home and minding children, and the general discomforts of working in the field.
“While this perspective may have some validity, upon deeper reflection I believe that as an Institute we have a greater role to play in encouraging our female colleagues to pursue careers in Loss Adjusting. Currently, we have only two female members of ILAN and it is hoped that through a closer relationship with PILA we can seek solutions which is hoped will attract more women into our fold,” he said.
He noted that he strongly believed professional women have a lot to offer the institute and that his administration will seek to harness this source of talent.
He maintained that with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, industry players have had to rely more on technology to keep businesses going, stressing that he does not see operators going back from whatever advances the pandemic might have pushed them towards.
“Going forward over the next few years I would expect our members to embrace technology and always keep their staff informed of contemporary trends both within and outside the industry. A competent Loss Adjuster should possess knowledge beyond their immediate field.
