Leadway Assurance Company Ltd; Leadway Pensure PFA and Pinewood Medicare have signed a partnership agreement with 13 recognised affiliates of the Nollywood Creative Industry for the provision of group life, pension tagged NollyHealth Insured, for their members.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the trio in Lagos
Speaking at the event, Executive Director, Leadway Assurance Company Limited, Ms. Adetola Adegbayi, said “Nollywood as at 2014 contributed to the tune of $6.6 billion to Nigerian GDP, and sadly there are situations where practitioners are forced out of how they make their living due to accidents and medical emergencies. We felt it was important that we provide reliable solutions to the problem and ensure we do our best to bridge the gaps that exist.
“This is why we have come together to create a platform that covers the basic needs of practitioners. The NollyInsured Scheme will cover group personal accidents, pension’s savings and group life insurance which is like leaving a legacy behind for families. This three-pronged approach will cover practitioners from a basic level.”
Also, the Executive Director, Sales & Marketing, Mr Olusakin Labeodan stressed the need for the creative industry to key into the contributory pension scheme. He said there cannot be a better time to take on the scheme, especially considering how well the industry has done noting that the Nollyinsured initiative and MOU signing are a clear indication of good things to come
Also commenting, MD/CEO Pinewood Medicare, Dr. Olasimbo Davidson stated: “The Nolly-care program is designed firstly to end healthcare inequalities that pertain to income differences, and secondly to end preventable deaths which often stem from high healthcare costs. Lastly the Nolly-care Program aims to significantly reduce poor health outcomes which are typically linked to low access to high end specialists and sub- specialist”.
In his remarks, the President, Directors’ Guild of Nigeria Actors(DGN), Mr. Fred Amata, who spoke on behalf of the creative industry said: “This is the first collective effort of the creative sector to seize the opportunity of the persuasive power of unified numbers in negotiating an advantage for the benefit of the larger sector. NollyInsured is a progressively inclusive initiative.”
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, represented by the Managing Director, Nigerian Film Corporation, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, assured Nollywood stakeholders of the Federal government’s continual support towards the development of Nollywood insurance scheme which provides favourable healthcare conditions for practitioners.
Madueke said that the insurance scheme could not have come at a better time, especially in the face of the urgent medical challenges that has faced members of the film industry and that there was the urgent need for both stakeholders to discuss health insurance and health issues pertaining to Nollywood members.
Commending the scheme, Hon. Adebimpe Akinsola, Special Adviser and Acting Commissioner, Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Lagos State represented by Director Admin & Human Resources, Ministry of Tourism & Culture, Mrs Olubisola Olunloyo, said she is convinced that the accomplishment is worthy of emulation and that the numerous medical and economic advantages streaming from the initiative will further heighten the excellence of Lagos State.
