Whatever has a beginning surely will have an ending. William Coker, outgoing Secretary-General of WAICA, recently spoke with Risk Shield Magazine, where he shared memories of his sixteen years journey.
How are you and the WAICA family?
I am doing fine, and the WAICA family, being a dynamic creature, is evolving and carrying out its mandate.
When exactly did you assume office as Secretary-General?
After a rigorous interview session sometime during the first half 2007, I was found fit and proper, and thus, appointed to the position of Secretary-General/CEO as of the 1st of August, 2007. The Interview Panel included the likes of Mrs. Senor Thomas-Sowe, President of WAICA at the time; Mr. Ezekiel Chiejina, who at the time was Director-General of Nigeria Insurers Association; and Mr. Kwame Gazo Agbenyadzie, Managing Director of Metropolitan, now Hollard in Ghana. l recall we were three candidates who made the final shortlist, which included a Nigerian lady and a Ghanaian one with gentleman.
How was the association when you assumed office?
When I assumed office, the association was not completely dead; but certainly was in a comatose situation, and taking on the job was considered a risk by many of my friends and family members. But I saw it then as a challenge and an opportunity to prove a point. At the time, there was barely any activity the secretariat, so it was quite a daunting and scary task taking on this role.
Tell us your first assignment
My first assignment was actually to create situation of ‘aliveness’ and activity for the association. As I said earlier, the association was more or less in a comatose state, with nothing happening; and my first assignment was to make sure it was revived and to create that awareness among stakeholders in the WAICA countries and beyond. That was not a simple task. By God’s good grace though, we were able to achieve this as history will indicate.
At what point did you stabilise the association?
Stabilisation of WAICA was not a stand-alone activity nor could it be said that a single activity or person did something so significant that it changed the fortunes of WAICA or set it on the right trajectory. It was rather a culmination of processes and events over time and also the bringing together of myriads of people and stakeholders that brought the association to a situation where it was resuscitated and cruising, rather than barely surviving.
Your office did so much for the establishment of WAICA Re. Tell us about it.
As far as the establishment of WAICA concerned, yes, I agree that under the auspices of WAICA, I was the lead driver/coordinator of the process from beginning until it was fully established; but there were other people involved. Together with persons like the current Group Managing Director – Mr. Ezekiel Ekundayo, the Financial Consultant – Dr. Claudius Bart-Williams, and the then President of WAICA, Mr. William Agbenyega of blessed memory, we put documents and processes together and embarked on an extensive roadshow to create awareness and acceptance of the project; and of course, to raise the required capital for the starting of what today can be considered a world-class reinsurance institution. The Governing Council was also there to give policy direction.
I recall when we were looking for promoters to put up the first amounts, there was a lack-lustre response from across the markets, with quite a lot of persons saying that the project will not see the light of day and as such, they will not throw their hard-earned cash into such a venture. However, one person, Mr. Kofi Duffuor of Star Assurance Co. Ltd. in Ghana, who is now the Group Chairman of WAICA Re, somehow so believed in the project that he caused the institutions he was involved with to put double the amount we were seeking from potential promoters. At the time, we were seeking only US$5,000 per institution. As they say, the rest is history which I will tell my grand-children.
Looking back, what can you say about WAICA Re?
There’s no doubt today that from where we came to where we are today, WAICA Re by God’s Good Grace is a formidable force and a major major player not only in the West African market, but in the African continent in the reinsurance business. The fact that it has been so successful under God, is testimony to the fact that there was a thirst and a need for such an institution in West Africa and indeed, Africa; and God just made it happen at the right time. We were only instruments in God’s hands. Just take a look at the figures and other operational aspects of WAICA Re over the years. For me, this tells us that as Africans, if we put our minds, hearts and resources to a venture, along with honest commitment, we can build strong lasting institutions.
It’s like WAII is struggling. What is the way forward?
When I was in WAII way back in 1981, we were 60 students enrolled at the time and of course, Nigeria had the highest number, followed by Ghana, and then Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Liberia. That will tell you that the leaders back then believed in the regional project and indeed, they were and are still right. Rather unfortunately today, the situation at WAII is nowhere near that. The lack of support and patronage by WAICA stakeholders is an issue, and it’s an issue that has to be grappled head-on. WAII is still relevant. WAII still gives value-adding courses, and is constantly adding new ones with diversification in its courses. Tailor-made programmes are also possible. When I attended, there was only one course – the one-year Diploma course for Middle Managers in the profession; but today, there are so many courses. Despite the seemingly lack of support, the institute has recently developed a state-of-the-art facility in this area which, to my knowledge, cannot be equalled by another existing insurance HR institution in any WAICA country. I want to believe a myopic, nationalistic approach will not solve the WAII situation, but rather a thinking on a regional basis. Local institutes and colleges can work together with WAII in a complimentary manner. WAII is the only one of its kind in the sub-region.
What challenges did you encounter over the years?
One of the challenges, probably the main one, is the issue of financial commitment from stakeholders. This is of course not limited to WAICA alone. Quite a number of such institutions go through this experience in our part of the world.
Another one is when we tend to be looking outward instead of coming in to build our own. I mean, it’s the situation of the chicken and the egg: do you want to come in and build the kind of institution you want or do you wait for it to be built and then you come in and enjoy what you haven’t worked for? Well, I am hoping that my successor will enjoy better support during his tenure.
Which day was your happiest as Secretary-General?
There were many good moments, but the happiest day that stands out in my tenure as Secretary-General is the day when WAICA Re was launched in Lagos, Nigeria by the then President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, who himself was a President of WAICA. For me, that was a mark of approval. It was, I daresay, the height of my tenure and I thank supporters and stakeholders who worked with me to get it through, and of course, we thank God.
Do you have any regrets on this job?
I certainly do not have any regrets taking on this job. Rather, what I would have loved to see was a situation where there was full support – full commitment to build a strong institution by all the relevant stakeholders; to look at the regional aspects and value of WAICA as opposed to the individualistic, nationalistic approach. That is what I would have loved to see happen; but gradually, we will get there.
Mr. William Coker is a family man. Who is William Coker?
William Coker is the only son, the last born of his parents. My father was a Methodist Priest and of course, that had a major bearing on my up-bringing and outlook on life, shaping my service in Church and para-Church bodies. My mother worked in the medical field as an auxiliary nurse. As a family man, I have a beautiful and lovely wife and four children I call my blessings.
Professionally, I am a Chartered Insurer from the Chartered Insurance Institute in London, UK, a Fellow of both the Chartered Insurance Institute of Ghana and the West African Insurance Institute Society of Fellows with over 40 years of insurance practice and experience. I have served in numerous boards and served on several committees with institutions, such as ECOWAS, African Trade Insurance Agency, and other local and international bodies. I have served as a Member of the Panel of Judges that decided on the Africa Re sponsored African Insurance Awards.
After this WAICA assignment, what next for William Coker?
What next for William Coker after WAICA? Well I am retiring and certainly, what I have no intentions of doing is another 8am to 5pm job. Lots of people have been saying to me: “you don’t look old enough to retire, you still look young and strong so there’s a lot more for you to give and to do”. This is even though I have reached retirement age. They say they will not be allowing me to go waste way. There are so many options available to me and of course, asking God to guide us is the best thing to do.
We wish you happy retirement Sir
Thank you very much for your good wishes and your prayers. I do hope and trust we shall continue to meet in various insurance fora.
