MANAGEMENT OF LIFE ASSURANCE FUNDS IN THE NIGERIA INSURANCE INDUSTRY

ABSTRACT

Insurance is one of the key sectors in the economic development of Nigeria. The insurance market is made up of sellers of the insurance products that are, the insurance companies who provide covers for various risks and the intermediaries namely insurance agents and brokers. Life assurance contracts are usually for much longer periods. Life funds are therefore accumulated to long-term liabilities. The main purpose of this study is to assess the management of life insurance funds using AXA Mansard Insurance plc as a case study.This study therefore is exploratory study designed to determine how life funds are properly managed.  Data were collected through administration of questionnaire and analysis was made based on the questionnaire administered. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Having analysed the data, the study came out that life insurance funds in Nigeria are placed both in short and long-term investments and there is generally a positive effect on the management of life assurance funds in Nigerian insurance markets.It was recommended that all the stakeholders, including management of insurance companies, policy makers and policy holders should collaborate and come out with conducive business climate to ensure effective investment of life funds for greater returns to investors.   

TABLE OF CONTENTS                                                                                            PAGES

Title                                                                      i                                   

Declaration                                                                   ii                       

Certification                                                                 iii                               

Dedication                                                                 iv                               

Acknowledgements                                                                      v                           

Abstract                                                                          vi                           

Table of contents                                                              vii                               

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.0       Background to the Study                                                        1

1.1     Statement of   the Problem                                                        3

1.2    Objectives of the study                                                4

1.3     Research Questions                                                                    5

1.4    Scope and Limitations                                                        6

1.5    Significant of Study                                                                    6

1.6       Definition of terms                                                    7

CHAPTER TWO: Literature Review

2.0     Introduction                                                                               9

2.1     General review of existing literature investment management of life insurance funds   9

2.2        Types of life assurance                                                                                                  10

2.2.1      Term Assurance                                                                                                          10

2.2.2      Whole life Assurance                                                                                                 13

2.2.3      Innovation in whole life Assurance                                                      15

2.4      Asset, Liability and Investment                                             23

2.5     Risk and Return                                                                                             26

2.6     Factors that determine the demand for life insurance                 27 2.7         Funds Management                                                                                                    28

2.7.1     Key Problems and Constraints of Fund Management                                                28

2.8         Funds (investment) managers and portfolio structures                                             30 2.9 Factors that influence the investment portfolios into which life funds are put          32

2.10      Prospect of adequate management of life insurancefunds                                     35

2.11    Overview, regulatory and supervisory framework of life insurance in Nigeria    37                       

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.0         Introduction                                                          38

3.1         Research Design                                                                                                         38

3.2         Survey Population                                                                                                      38

3.2.1      Sample Size                                                                                                                39

3.2.2      Sample Design                                                                                                            39

3.3         Data Sources                                                                                      40 3.3.4 Data Collection                                                 41

3.4.1      Primary Sources                                                                                                         41

3.4.2      Secondary Sources                                                                                                     42

CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA

4.1         Introduction                                                                                                               43

4.2        Presentation and Analysis of  Data                                                   44

4.3        Hypothesis testing                                                                                                       55

4.4        Discussion of findings                                                                                                57

CHAPTER FIVE: FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1       Introduction                                                                                                                 58

5.2       Summary                                                                                                                   59

5.3      Conclusion                                                                                                                     60

5.4      Recommendations                                                                                                         61

5.5       Suggested for further studies                                                                                        62

References

Appendix