CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Insurance is a course of productive that enhances the quality of life and ensures the development and survival of all other businesses in general. The main purpose of insurance apart from its basic function is to enhance National development through effective wealth creation, protection and conservation.
In the view of this, Oshinloye et al (2009), shows that the important of insurance to any Nations economy cannot be undermined. He said that no country can experience a meaningful development without the presence of formidable insurance industry, thereby making insurance business in any nation indispensable irrespective of its quota to the gross domestic product (GDP) or its level of awareness among the populace. According to Ezirim and Muoghahu (2002), in a typical market economy of the globe the insurance industry is perceived as an indispensable tool of economic progress, growth and development. It is seen as vital to the well-being of and smooth functioning of a modern economy. Like most financial institutions, is seems as a conduct for mobilizing monetary from the surplus economy agents and channelizing them to more efficient uses.
Oba (2003) wrote that, the performance of the insurance sub- sector is a function of a social economic and political environment in which it operates. In fact, the state of the insurance industry of a country is a reflection of its economy. Insurance remains one of the
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major indices for the level of development of a nation’s wealth and plays very significant roles in the mobilization of investable resources of an economy.
In developing economics of the world, were financial systems are not highly sophistically insurance provides the necessary bridge between commerce and industry thereby making it possible for continued economic activities. Unfortunately, the Nigeria situation is different. It is no longer news at all to observe that the economy appears to have defiled economy prescriptions which are intended to a positive impact on the well- being of the people.
According to Szablick (2009), Nigerian insurance is now the most developed among Africa. The industry has underperformed its role in the financial sub- sector of the economy, when compared with other parts of the world. The total insurance shared of the world market is only 0.01% compared to South Africa with 0.86% several factor account for the under performance of the insurance industry, such as low capitalization, high receivable and poor public perception of the importance of the insurance for business.
Insurance companies are established to provide financial security to their policy holders, through the pooling and investment of premiums, out of which those who suffer unexpected losses are indemnified.
In Nigeria, the returns on investment insurance funds lay behind the rate of inflation in the economy, there is market instability due to inadequate information in the market, which
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made it difficult for insurance companies to make a long term planning and make optimal use of fund for investment.
Based on the fore-going this research investigates the contribution made by the insurance industry on the economic growth and development of Nigeria. Possible factors affecting the impact of insurance on the economy will be reviewed.
1.2 STATEMENT OT THE PROBLEM
This section of the research emphasizes on some of the challenges faced by insurance
companies in the discharge of their duties that contribute to gross domestic product (GDP).
According to Obasi (2010), Nigerian has a negative attitude towards insurance companies. This accounted largely for the low patronage and performance stemmed from the poor attitude of insurers in the non claims payment. This tradition of defaulting in claims translated to some form of bad publicity for the industry and consequently, confidence in the industry eroded significantly. Because of the confidence crisis of the industry, Nigerians developed strong apathy for insurance which made the industry pariah industry. The industry has refused to change with the times, as policy documents still carry clauses that breeds distrust with customers. (Obasi, 2010)
The abysmal level of insurance culture developing economies has attracted relative interests among researches and practitioners alike (Yusuf, Gbadamosi, and Hamadu,
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2009). Omar (2005) assessed customer’s attitude towards life insurance patronage in Nigeria and found out that there is lack of trust and confidence in the insurance companies. Other major reason, he adduced is lake of knowledge about life insurance products. An instructive opinion suggested by the researchers is the call for a renewed marketing communication strategy that should be based on creating awareness and informing the customers of the benefit inherent in life insurance so as to reinforce the purchasing decision.
Furthermore, Yusuf (2006) noted that religion historically has provided a strong source of cultural opposition to life- insurance as many religious people believe that a reliance on life insurance results from distrust of God’s protecting care. Until the nineteenth century, European nations condemned and banned life insurance on religious grounds. (Yusuf, Gbadamosi and Hamadu, 2009). Some scholars are of the opinion that religious antagonism to life insurance still remains in several Islamic countries.
Researchers have also proven that another major challenge of insurance industry is unfavourable macroeconomic environment. A stable macroeconomic environment promotes the savings necessary to finance investments, a pre-condition for achieving viable insurance industry and sustainable economic growth. Insurance companies are sensitive to economic fundamentals; this means that insurance companies factor macroeconomic variables into the amount they collect as premium and their investment decisions in order to meet up with claims. These macroeconomic variables include the size of the current account deficit in relation to foreign exchange reserve, government debt,
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government deficits, inflation, interest rate and exchange rates etc. Nigeria’s macroeconomic policies over the last periodic financial indiscipline, leading to volatile and generally high inflation, large exchange rate swings and negative real interest rates for extended periods. Government is not sincere in promoting a favourable macroeconomic environment that will allow the financial service industries thrive. This will adversely affect the operational efficiency o the insurance industry.
In spite of the following challenges facing insurance industry, the following research questions will be asked;
• What is the relationship between insurance contribution and gross domestic product (GDP) in Nigeria?
• What major challenges face the activities of insurance business in Nigeria?
• What is the significant relationship between total investment of insurance business and gross domestic product (GDP) in Nigeria?