OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dr. Duru is an accomplished Chartered Insurer, risk analyst and administrator equipped with a well-recognized record of accomplishment in an Executive Board role and Management skills with over three (3) decades of versatile and trusted experience in the Insurance Industry.
He holds a BSc (Hons) in both Economics and Insurance from the Imo State University Owerri and St Monica University, Cameroun; Masters in finance (MSc) from the Lagos State University and a PhD in Business Administration from the Charisma University in Turks & Caicos Island.
Dr Duru is a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria and an Associate member of the Nigeria Institute of Management (Chartered), Certified Pension Institute of Nigeria, and Chartered Institute of Administration and has also undergone various certification programs on leadership and management.
He started his insurance career at Valid Assurance Company Limited, and has worked for various insurance organizations like, Central Insurance Company Ltd (now Linkage Assurance Plc), DBLS Insurance Brokers Ltd, KBL Insurance Ltd, International Energy Insurance Plc, Stanbic IBTC Insurance Brokers Ltd, Heirs Insurance Brokers Ltd, Old Mutual Nigeria General Insurance Company Ltd, and Heirs General Insurance Ltd; where he gained valuable experience in underwriting, risk management, reinsurance, claims administration, business development, insurance broking and customer service.
He has previously worked as the Head of underwriting, Head of Technical Operations, Executive Director (Technical)/Chief Operating Officer, and Ag. Managing Director/ CEO.
Dr Duru was the Executive Director Technical/ Chief Operating Officer at Heirs General Insurance Limited before joining Universal Insurance Plc.
He was once a Chief Examiner of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) and a part-time lecturer at the Lagos State Polytechnic, where he also served as the external examiner. Dr Duru was a council member of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN). He is a motivational speaker and a facilitator of insurance and management courses.
Dr Duru is happily married, with four (4) children and he enjoys reading books, imparting knowledge and travelling.
Mr. Nduagwuike holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LLB. Hons.) from the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus and a Masters Degree in Law (LLM) from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, majoring in Arbitration and Administrative Law. He was subsequently called to the Nigerian Bar after obtaining the Bachelor of Law Degree (B.L.) from the Nigerian Law School. He is an Associate Member of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (ACIIN); Member, Chartered Insurance Institute, London (MCII); Member, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria; Associate Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London; Member, Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture. He is also a Council Member, Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture as well as vice president in charge of the Chamber’s trade affairs.
He started his working career with the then African Alliance Insurance Company Limited (Now African Alliance Insurance Plc.) as a field supervisor in 1984 and rose to become a District Superintendent in 1989. He left the Company in 1990 to Stallion Assurance Company Limited, Enugu where he became the Pioneer Production Manager. He worked in several other companies within the industry in different capacities and was the pioneer Managing Director of Honesty Insurance Company Limited, a position he held from 1996 to 2003. He is presently engaged in legal practice as the Principal Partner at Repsaj and Co., a law firm he co-founded with others in 2003. Mr. Nduagwuike is also a public speaker and is married with children.
Mr. Anyanwu obtained HND from the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State. He also holds PGD and MBA degrees in Management from the University of Calabar.
He is a chartered member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and also a chartered member of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN)
He has been an active player in the Insurance industry since 1992. Prior to joining Universal, he has worked with African Development Insurance Co Ltd; Central Insurance Co Ltd where he rose to the position of Deputy Manager, Marketing before leaving in 1998 to join the team that started Guardian Trust Insurance Company Ltd. from where he left in June 2004 as Senior Manager/Head Abuja to join Universal Insurance Plc.. He became the Head, Abuja Office and was promoted to General Manager, Nothern Operations in 2008, a position he held till his elevation to Executive Director, Nothern Operations in 2012.
Reginald has attended several local and international courses, seminars and workshops. He is married with children.
Mrs. Olufunmilayo Adebusola Balogun was appointed on 19th July, 2022 to sit on the Board of Universal Insurance Plc as a Non-Executive Director.
A Distinguished Banker, Accountant, Tax Practitioner and astute Public Administrator. She holds an excellent combination of academic and professional qualifications, training, skills and experience spanning the disciplines of banking, finance and public administration.
Fellow, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA); Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria(CIBN) and Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) and also hold a Master`s Degree in Business Administration.
Before joining the service of Lagos State Government, she worked with a number of private and publicly quoted Organizations among which are Mobil Oil Plc; Universal Trust Bank Limited; Commerce Bank Limited; Deloitte Adetona Isiche &Co (Chartered Accountants).
Olufunmilayo joined the Public Service of Lagos State Government in December, 1996. She served diligently in the Finance and Accounts Directorate of various Ministries, Departments and Agencies including the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, from where she was appointed as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture by His Excellency, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), the Governor of Lagos State on December 20th, 2012.
Olufunmilayo has served as –
- Permanent Secretary – Ministry of Tourism, Art and Culture.
- LPermanent Secretary – Civil Service Pensions Office, Ministry of Establishment, Training and Pensions.
- Permanent Secretary – Ministry of Science and Technology.
- Permanent Secretary – Ministry of Finance.
She retired from the Public Service of Lagos State in August 2019.
Olufunmilayo served as a co-opted member of the Council of Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) May 2018 – April 2022.
Also, she is a member of –
*Association of Professional Women Bankers of Nigeria.
*Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria.
Presently, she is the Chairman, Statutory Audit Committee Friesland Campina WAMCO Plc.
Olufunmilayo is a member of Ikoyi Club, happily married with children and grandchildren.
Engr. Fidelis Nwankwo holds a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Mechanical Engineering (B Eng. Hons.) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, from where he graduated with a Second Class Upper Division in 1983. He proceeded to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja where he participated in the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Programme (NYSC). He served with the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA from 1983 t0 1984. He is a registered member of the Council for The Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), and a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE). Engr. Nwankwo has served on the boards and councils of various private and public bodies and parastatals These include:
- Hon. Minister of State for Health, FRN (2015– 2015).
- National Commissioner INEC (1999 – 2004).
- Council Member, University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta by State (2009 – 2012).
- Board Member, Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientist (2010 -2012).
- Chairman, Governing Council, Ebonyi State College of Education, Ikwo (2015 – 2020).
- Chairman, Ndiagu Microfinance Ltd. (1996– 2005)
- Board Member, Anambra State Rural Development Authority (1987 – 1989).
- Managing Director/CEO, Nigerian Cement Company Plc., Nigercem Nkalagu (1996 – 1998).
- Chairman, Chase Express Services Ltd, (A Lagos based Courier Company,2018 – till date).
Dr. Chinyere Vivien Nwoga holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English/Literature from the Imo State University, Okigwe, Nigeria. She also holds a Doctorate degree from the European American University. She has gathered over 35 years of cross-industry experience.
She started her career at the Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) FM, Owerri as a Radio Presenter. She has since delved into diverse areas of enterprise which include public relations, corporate affairs, marine and fisheries, publishing and chamber of commerce activities. As the Deputy President Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, she is the first and only female to enter in the presidency of the Chamber since its inception in 1958 and in a few years she will become the 1st female President of the Chamber. She is an author of a number of books and articles. One of them is The World She Knew which is published in the UK, and has been translated into many languages. She is presently the founder and Managing Consultant of Soluzone Ltd., a Human Capital Development firm. Dr. Nwoga is a Fellow and member of a number of Institutes and Associations including:
- Fellow International Association of Research Scholars And Administrators Corporation Delaware USA (FAISAC)
- Fellow Institute of Corporate Administrators of Nigeria (FICA)
- Fellow Institute of Management Consultants ( FIMC)
- Member Institute of Directors (MIoD)
- Member National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) USA
- Certified Management Specialist ( CMS) London Graduate School
- Secretary-General and Board member, International Association of Research Scholars and Administrators corporation, Delaware USA.
- Alumni, The Leadership Institute, Arlington, Virginia, USA.
Barrister Godfrey Mbanugo Udenze is a trained legal practitioner. He holds an LLB (Hons) from the University of Nigeria, a Notary Public, a member and the National Legal Adviser of the Nigerian Environmental Society (NES). He is also a registered professional with the Financial Reporting Counsel and an accredited professional with the Nigerian Stock Exchange. He worked in the reputable law firm of Godfrey K. J. Amachree and Co.; a firm of legal practitioners. He rose to the position of Senior Counsel before he founded his law firm, Mbanugo Udenze & Co. in 1992. He has several years of experience in commercial/Corporate law practice and litigation. He has built a strong experiential base in large financial transactions and corporate compliance following long-term company secretarial and legal representative roles in financial service, the oil & gas servicing industry and in the equipment leasing/hire-purchase sector. He is also a key player in oil and gas practice, with experience and deep industry knowledge facilitated by attending diploma programmes at the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy, Dundee, UK. He is a recognised expert in alternative dispute resolution with corporate experience in arbitration, mediation, and conciliation.
Barrister Udenze sits on the Board of Cordros Capital Limited, an investment banking group; Teqbridge Limited, and SYSVIEW Mega Projects Limited, amongst several others. He is a trustee of Civil Rights Concerns (CRC), a non-governmental organization at the vanguard of human and environmental rights. He is a fellow and member of the following associations:
- Fellow Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Nigeria
- Member Chartered Institute of Directors (IOD)
- Member Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN)
- Member Nigeria Bar Association (NBA)
- National President Pension Lawyers Association of Nigeria (PLAN)
- Member Capital Market Solicitors Association of Nigeria
- Member Equipment Leasing Association of Nigeria (ELAN)
- Member – Business Recovery & Insolvency Practitioners Association of Nigeria (BRIPAN)
- Member/Former National Legal Adviser Nigeria Environmental Society (NES)
- Member Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy Anambra State, 2006 to 2010.
