Business

Lasaco Assurance: Looking Good For The Future By Rilwan Oshinusi

Published

4 years ago

September 30, 2020

Adebayo

Since its over 40 years of existence and particularly within the last five years, Lasaco Assurance Plc has consistently made remarkable progress and contributed positively to the growth of the insurance industry through our strict adherence to professional standards.

The company has insisted on doing business with honesty, empathy and the fear of God and made its clients get value for their investments, thus, making them (clients) rely on the company as their dependable companion.

This has culminated in a lot of noticeable positive changes that have kept Lasaco in the top position in its line of business. Its core values, purpose and mission have continued to make it a leading brand in the insurance industry in Nigeria.

Lasaco’s improved performance, especially in the last five years, was driven by various transformational and growth changes implemented by the Board of Directors and Management, which have resulted in significant changes to its organisational structures and performance. Its marketing effort is now through a strategic branch structure (organised on a regional basis) for adequate coverage of the entire country in order to increase our penetration.

These changes were also supported by various capacity upgrades, including robust procedures and policies which have enhanced its operations as well as improved the company’s performance and growth. It has significantly upscaled the quality of its service delivery as well as considerably reduced service turnaround times.

Thus, Lasaco has grown considerably in size, business-coverage, capital base and assets with its operations spanning all classes of insurance and special risks business as well as real estate.

Lasaco’s business portfolio currently includes leadership and a significant share of key Federal and State Governments insurance businesses, multinationals and private companies. In the last five years, the Company has embarked on strategic programmes to boost its growth, performance and transformation in line with its vision and organisational goal.

In the area of growth, the Company has recorded about 30% increase in its Gross Premium Income within five years. Financially, Lasaco is strong with an asset base of about N17 billion and a high solvency margin ratio. It has consistently paid dividends to shareholders since the last three years.

As part of its transformation agenda, Lasaco remodelled its Head Office to a world-class workplace environment as well as rebranded to embrace the company’s global nature while retaining its root of origin.

The Nigerian insurance market has been faced with different challenges in its efforts to serve the needs of the relevant stakeholders. As a result, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), the body responsible for the regulation of the insurance industry has, over time, devised different means in its aim to achieve this.

With the recent Recapitalisation Guidelines issued by NAICOM to meet up with the requirements, Lasaco’s shareholders have been proactive to approve the raising of N10 billion additional capital through Special/Private Placement. The arrangement is at an advanced stage, and soon they (the shareholders) and new investors will be allowed to increase their shareholding and/or invest newly.

Since January 2020, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has transformed the whole world and presented tremendous challenges with reverberating effects medically, socially and economically. Thank God that the company has kept its head afloat working tirelessly to ensure that its effect does not keep it out of business.

Lasaco’s investment in ICT infrastructure is yielding fruit as most of its staff are effectively working remotely with minimal disruption, since most of the Company’s documents are now stored in the clouds, arranged methodically for ease of retrieval.

As a socially responsible corporate citizen that supports government’s efforts in curbing the spread of the deadly COVID19, LASACO, along with other major insurance companies, under the leadership of Nigerian Insurers Association and National Insurance Commission, provided Testing Materials, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Life Insurance Cover free of charge to 5,000 front line health workers across the country.

Prior to this, the Company had extended such gestures to two states by providing Life Insurance Cover for an appreciable number of health workers and volunteers in Lagos State and the State of Osun.

Digital technologies are fundamentally changing how companies in the insurance industry operate and serve their customers, and Lasaco is not exempted. The company intends to transform its claims administration process and customer experiences via digitalisation. Its website has been revamped to ease the process of buying an insurance policy or filing a claim.

As a growth strategy to further increase our branch network and national presence, Lasaco intends to expand its branches and operating base network to include locations such as the South-South and South East regions of Nigeria.

No doubt, the future looks brighter for the company as it continue to make sacrifice to satisfy its clients so as to make the investments of the company’s shareholders continue to yield positive results.

Rilwan Oshinusi is the Deputy Managing Director, Corporate Services, Lasaco Assurance PLC

Business

Oando Boss Wale Tinubu Showers Encomium on Dangote @67

Published

1 week ago

April 11, 2024

Adebayo

Aliko Dangote with Wale Tinubu

‘Celebrate true friends. They are a part of you that always sparkle’ – Amy Leigh Mercree

The English-born actress may have had the boss of Oando Group, Jubril Adewale Tinubu in mind when she made this quote.

Truly, the trained lawyer never forgets to celebrate and appreciate his good friends whenever it is necessary. In fact, he is one gentleman who values and understands the definition of true friendship.

This played out yesterday, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, when he showered praises on his friend of many years, Africa’s richest man and Chairman of Aliko Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, when he clocked 67.

In celebration of Dangote, the oil and gas top player wrote:

“Happy Birthday to a visionary and accomplished entrepreneur whose impact continues to reverberate across Africa and beyond.

I hope your day has been filled with joy, laughter, and limitless blessings. May the world continue to recognise and applaud your remarkable achievements.

As you enter a new year, my prayer is that your commitment to building Africa never waivers but now and again you stop to appreciate the phenomenal difference you have made to the capacity of indigenous entrepreneurship on the global stage.

Wish you many more years in good health.

Dangote, a name that means so many things to many people. But what no one can deny is the fact that the name is essentially synonymous with success.

Since he made his mark in the nation’s business sector, many years ago, he has risen to become a glittering star in the business firmament.

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Business

Inflation: Real reason Indomie reduced Prices of Popular Staple Food item Revealed

Published

3 weeks ago

March 29, 2024

Adebayo

A flagship brand under Dufil Prima Foods Limited, Indomie Instant Noodles, has announced a significant reduction in prices to ensure affordability for consumers amidst Nigeria’s escalating inflationary pressures.

The decision came as a response to mounting economic challenges faced by Nigerians, with the aim of maintaining accessibility to this popular staple food item.

And this has been confirmed by a recent survey conducted across various stores in Lagos, which revealed a notable decrease in the prices of Indomie products. The cost of the 70g pack of Indomie Regular Chicken noodles plummeted from N300 to N250 compared to the previous month.

Additionally, the price of a 40-pack carton of Indomie dropped from N12,000 to N10,000 within the same timeframe. Prior to this adjustment, Indomie’s prices had surpassed those of competing brands such as Mimee (N200) and Honeywell noodles (N250).

Temitope Ashiwaju, the group corporate communications & event manager at Dufil Prima Foods Limited, attributed the price reduction to favourable changes in operational costs.

He emphasised the company’s commitment to passing on benefits to consumers, stressing their dedication to fairness and affordability.

“We are never going to be taking advantage of the populace. We want to make profit, but in a fair way,” the spokesman added. “That is why we are determined to keep our products affordable to Nigerians.”

Contrary to speculations suggesting low patronage as the driving factor behind the price adjustment, Ashiwaju reaffirmed that the decision was rooted in the company’s ethos of customer-centricity and fairness.

Industry experts have hailed Dufil Prima’s move as influential, predicting a ripple effect that could prompt other brands to follow suit because Indomie’s dominant position in the market has positioned it as a price setter, prompting expectations for broader shifts in pricing strategies across the industry.

The price reduction by Indomie comes amidst a backdrop of economic challenges in Nigeria, characterised by soaring inflation rates.

Over the past nine months, Nigeria has witnessed a steady rise in headline inflation, driven primarily by government reforms such as the removal of petrol subsidy and naira devaluation.

As a result, food inflation has surged, exacerbating the financial strain on households and leading to an increase in poverty levels.

Despite these economic headwinds, a recent report by Euromonitor International indicates robust growth in the sales value of noodles within Nigeria’s formal market.

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Business

Sosa Fruit Drink and Rite Sausages Thrill 60 Consumers with Movie Hangout and Freebies

Published

3 weeks ago

March 26, 2024

Adebayo

From Left: Zaheer Abioye, a Rite Sausage Consumer; with Adebola Adeyinka, Assistant Marketing Manager, Rite Foods Limited; Chukwu Ifeyinwa Esther, a Sosa Fruit Drink Consumer; and Olawale Odenusi, Digital Lead, Rite Foods Limited; at the Sosa Fruit Drink and Rite Sausage movie hangout for 60 consumers at the Ikeja City Mall, Lagos

Sixty lucky fans of premium Sosa Fruit Drink and delicious Rite Sausages, owned by Rite Foods Limited, were treated to an exhilarating movie experience on Saturday, February 24th, 2024. These consumers, selected from an online Valentine’s Day engagement, enjoyed the romantic comedy “All’s Fair in Love” at the Silverbird Cinema in Ikeja City Mall.

The winners, along with their companions, received valuable gift items and expressed their gratitude to the award-winning brands for creating a memorable and refreshing afternoon. They savoured the variety of Sosa Fruit Drink flavours (Orange, Apple, Orange Passion Mango, Mixed Berries, and Cranberry) in both 35cl and 1-liter packs, alongside the popular Rite Spicy Beef and Bigi Beef Sausage Roll that have become consumers’ favourite.

“This event was an innovative way to show our appreciation for our loyal customers and celebrate the spirit of Valentine’s Day,” said Ms. Adebola Adeyinka, Assistant Marketing Manager, Rite Foods Limited. “We are committed to providing value and opportunities for our customers, and this event was a fun way to do just that.”

The free movie outing reinforces Rite Foods’ commitment to its core mission of putting consumers at the heart of everything they do. The company’s dedication to quality and value is evident in the numerous awards their products have received, including the “Outstanding New Product of the Year – Juice” award for Sosa Fruit Drink in 2023 and the “Best Value for Money – Sausage Brand” award for Rite Foods’ Sausage Roll in 2023.

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