2024 Awards Panelists

2024 Panelists

The 2024 Awards Panelists (Panel of Judges) have been constituted in line with the requirements of the Almond Insurance Industry Awards Framework. The Panelists work based on the predetermined Selection Process. Meet the 2024 Awards Panelists.

MS Prisca SOARES

Chairman, Panel of Judges

Ms Prisca Soares has served the Insurance industry in various capacities at home and abroad, and has served on the Boards of Directors of various companies.

Obinna CHILEKEZI

Secretary, Panel of Judges

Obinna Chilekezi is a multi-skilled professional. He writes on insurance and has appeared on both radio and television talking insurance.

Dr Olajide S. FADUN

Vice Chairman, Panel of Judges

Dr Olajide Solomon Fadun is a risk management and Insurance specialist. He has doctorate (Ph.D) in Risk Management, Insurance and Financial Services at the Glasgow Caledonian University, United Kingdom.

Justice Olufunmilayo O. ATILADE

Member, Panel of Judges

Justice Olufunmilayo O. Atilade is a disciplined and distinguished jurist of high repute, the fifteenth (15th) Chief Judge of Lagos State, and the fifth (5th) Female Jurist in that capacity.

Dr Olajide Solomon Fadun is a risk management specialist and consultant, with both local and international experience. He is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (ACAMS); Specialist Member of the Institute of Risk Management (SIRM), Chartered Insurance Practitioner, London (ACII), Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (FCIIN), Associate of Insurance and Actuarial Society of Glasgow, UK (AIASG); and Associate of British Academy Management (ABAM).

Dr Fadun has doctorate (PhD) in Risk Management, Insurance and Financial Services at Glasgow Caledonian University, UK; MSc Social Research (Business & Management) at Glasgow Caledonian University, UK; BSc Business Studies & Management at the University of St Mark & St John, Plymouth UK; ICT Baseline Qualification (Certificate of Competence) from Glasgow Caledonian University, UK; MSc Economics at Enugu State University of Science & Technology, Enugu Nigeria; MBA Insurance & Risk Management at Enugu State University of Science & Technology, Enugu Nigeria; and Higher National Diploma (HND) Insurance at Lagos State Polytechnic, Lagos Nigeria.

Dr Fadun is very resourceful and highly analytical. He possesses a very good writing, oral communication, and interpersonal skills. Dr Fadun has over twenty years professional qualification experiences in financial services industry in the Nigeria insurance industry, the United Kingdom (UK), Netherland, and United States Financial services sectors. He is also a versatile researcher who has published in both local and international peer reviewed journals. Dr Fadun is a recognised books and journal reviewer at Emerald Group Publishing Limited (UK) and Palgrave MacMillan Limited (UK).

Dr Fadun is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Actuarial Science and Insurance, Faculty of Management Sciences, University of Lagos, Lagos Nigeria. Dr Fadun is a Council Member and Africa Regional Consultant (Insurance and Risk Management) of Gerson Lehrman Group (GLG) New York. He is also a Faculty Faculty and Doctoral Thesis Supervisor at University of Liverpool Online, UK; Faculty and Postgraduate Dissertation Supervisor at University of Portsmouth Online, UK; University of Roehampton Online London; Faculty and Doctoral thesis supervisor in UNICAF Universities (including UNICAF Universities – Malawi, Zambia, Uganda; University of South Wales – USW; University of Nicosia – UNIC; Marymount California University – MCU; and University of St Mark & St John – MARJON); Adjunct Lecturer, Mountain Top University; and Adjunct lecturer and Doctoral thesis Supervisor at the Lead City University, Ibadan Nigeria. Dr Fadun is happily married. He loves travelling, adventure, impacting knowledge, and meeting people.

Justice Olufunmilayo O. Atilade is a disciplined and distinguished jurist of high repute, the fifteenth (15th) Chief Judge of Lagos State, and the fifth (5th) Female Jurist in that capacity. She statutorily took a bow on 24 Sept. 2017 after a remarkably fruitful and meritorious service on the High Court Bench of the Lagos State Judiciary, spanning twenty-one (21) years.

Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade is an exceptional jurist, erudite, focused, diligent and committed to service. Born into the family of Hon. Justice James Oladipo Williams and Mrs. Henrietta Williams, both of blessed memory in London, United Kingdom on the 24th of September 1952. The young ‘Funlayo’ commenced her formal education at William Foster Primary School in North London from 1956 to 1959, and thereafter proceeded to Ladi-Lak Institute, Yaba, between 1959 and 1963.

For her post primary education, she attended the Holy Child College, Ikoyi Lagos from 1964-1965; Lagos Anglican Girls Grammar School, Surulere, 1966- 1969 where she completed her Secondary education and obtained her West African Examination Council (WAEC)Certificate. She went further to obtain her Higher School Certificate (A-Levels), at the prestigious Queens College, Yaba Lagos between 1970 and 1971, and her excellent performance in her chosen subjects earned her direct admission to the University of Lagos, Akoka in 1972 for her Law degree.

Having obtained her Law Degree in 1975, she enrolled at the Law School Lagos in 1975 and was called to the Bar in June, 1976. Between 1976 and 1977, she was mobilised for the mandatory national service (NYSC) and deployed to the Ministry of Justice Benin, then Bendel State as Pupil State Counsel.

Armed with these qualifications, she commenced her journey to a flourishing and rewarding career in the legal profession when she gained employment and served in the Federal Ministry of Justice as Pupil State Counsel from 1977 to 1979. From 1979 to 1981, she joined the NigeriaPort Authority, Marina, Lagos and served as Senior Legal Officer and Principal Legal Officer respectively, within the period. In 1982, her quest for a career prospect in the judiciary, propelled her desire to take up an appointment in the Magistracy as Senior Magistrate Grade 1, in the Lagos State Judiciary. She rose through the ranks and was appointed Chief Magistrate 1, in 1993.

After a successful career on the Magisterial Bench spanning a period of fourteen (14) years, Hon. Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade earned a deserved elevation to the High Court Bench in the Lagos State Judiciary on the 19th of July 1996.

My Lady is highly resourceful, impartial and fearless arbiter, some of the qualities and personal attributes that earned her Ladyship, a deserved recognition and special appointments during her active judicial service. Indeed, she did perform exceedingly well and proved her mettle in various capacities she was called to serve.

In the year 2014, precisely on Monday 18th of August of the year, she mounted the rostrum and took the oath of office as the fifteenth (15th) Chief Judge of our highly esteemed and progressive Judiciary, thus succeeding her sister, Hon. Justice A.A. Phillips in that order. Indeed, it was a record achievement in the annals of the Lagos State Judiciary. Before her appointment, she had at various times in her career, served in all Divisions of the State Judiciary. These are- the General Civil Division; Criminal Division, Lagos; Lands Division; Family and probate Division, Lagos; Lands Division; and Commercial Division, Ikeja, She was also the pioneer judge at the Badagry High Court between 1996 and 1999.

In recognition of her skills, depth and knowledge on-the job, Her Ladyship’s experience has over the years earned her numerous appointments in the course of her successful career. These among others include Chairman, Delta State Election Tribunal, Asaba, 2011; Chairman, Lagos State Settlement Week Committee, 2012-2014; Chairman, Judges’ Retreat Committee, 2012-2014; Chairman, NAWJN South West Retreat Planning Committee, 2014; Head Judge/Admin. Judge, High Court of Lagos State, 2012-2014; Head, General Civil Division, High Court of Lagos State, 2012-2014; Chairman, Judicial Service Commission, Lagos State, 201-2017; Member, Board of Governing Council, National Judicial Institute, Abuja,2015-2017.

In the course of her career, the fifteenth (15th) Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Atilade attended several International and local Seminar, Workshops and Conferences.

She is a member of several professional bodies including The International Bar Association; the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association; Member, World Jurist Association; Member, NAWJN (Public Relations Officer), 2011-2013; Member International Womens’ Society; Member African Women in Law (AWLA); Member, International Federation of Women Lawyers; Member, Ladies Round table; Fellow, Nigerian Chartered Institute of Arbitration (NICarb); and Member Cosmopolitan Womens’ Club.

Her hobbies are reading, traveling, and working out at the gym. She is a life member of Ikoyi Club (1938) and patronises its Golf section. She is currently the Managing Consultant of the Williams Hamilton Juris Consult, a legal consultancy that hosts international training seminars for Nigerian Judges and Legislators. More importantly, she is a mother and a grandmother very much loved by her family.

Mr. Obashola Oladipo ALO

Member, Panel of Judges

Mr Obashola Alo is the Group Head Financial Risks/Insurance of Dangote Group.

Mr. Rasaaq Obomeile SALAMI

Member, Panel of Judges

Mr. Rasaaq Obomeile Salami is the Head, Corporate Communications and Market Development at the National Insurance Commission NAICOM, the apex insurance industry regulatory authority in Nigeria.

He is a thorough-bred professional with vast knowledge and experience in communications, media relations, public relations/stakeholders management, brand management & marketing, procurement, market development, regulation and hands-on management of human and material resources spanning over two decades uninterrupted.

During these years, Mr. Salami had traversed both the media and insurance sectors in Nigeria leaving indelible marks along the way. He started his journalism career at the old Daily Times Newspaper where he worked briefly before joining the now defunct African Concord magazine. He attained the pinnacle of his journalism career when he became the Deputy Editor and Head of Abuja Bureau at Policy Magazine in 2001.

Prior his engagement at NAICOM in 2009, Mr. Salami was the Head of Advertising and Marketing Department of Businessday Newspaper, Abuja having left Daily Independent Newspaper in the same capacity in 2007.

Since joining NAICOM, he has remained a key player in the supervisory and regulatory activities not only at the Commission but, in the entire financial services sector both within and outside the country. He is currently the chairman of the Financial Market Development SubCommittee of the Financial Services Regulatory Coordinating Committee (FSRCC) – a body comprising the CBN; FIRS; NAICOM; PenCom; NDIC; SEC; CAC; FRC; NGX, Federal Ministry of Finance and others.

He is a standing member of the planning committee of the Insurance Industry Consultative Council, IICC; member of the Publicity and Communication Sub-Committee of the Insurers Committee and, was a member of the Organising Committee of the 2021 Africa Insurance Organization, AIO Conference held in Lagos, Nigeria.

He was part of the planning process for the formation of the West Africa Insurance Supervisors’ Association (WAISA) – a body comprising Heads of Insurance Regulatory Authorities in the West African sub-region.

It is instructive to note that as Head of the CFI’s Directorate, Mr. Salami supervised and coordinated activities of critical departments in the Commission between 2017 and 2020. These departments include – Information Technology; Procurement, Market Development, Corporate Affairs, SERVICOM and Financial Inclusion. He supervised the process that birthed a number of Microinsurance and Takaful companies and as well, the NAICOM Portal into the Nigerian insurance sector.

As spokesperson of NAICOM, Mr. Salami did bring his experience to bear on the job and ensured a complete transformation of the system notably, in the area of information dissemination and management. It is to his credit that the Commission has maintained an excellent relationship with the media.

Mr. Salami is a graduate of Mass Communication and holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Administration, CIA; Member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR and Member of the Advertising Practioners Council of Nigeria, APCON. He is happily married with children.

2024 Panelists