Theme: Building Sustainable Pension Systems for a Secure Future

Course Overview

Nigeria’s pension legal framework has undergone multiple changes since the first legislative act on pension in 1951 called the Pension Ordinance, which had retroactive effect from 01 January 1946. The last major change was in 2004 with the enactment of the Pensions Reform Act (PRA 2004),
which introduced the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and made it mandatory for employers and employees in both the public and private sectors to contribute towards the retirement benefits of employees.

The conference will provide a platform for participants to share their experiences and learn from the best practices in pension systems in the country, and explore innovative approaches to pension design and regulation that leverage technology, behavioural economics, and other emerging trends.

Overall, the conference will contribute to the development of a more sustainable and secure pension system in Nigeria that ensures dignity and financial security in retirement for all citizens.

Conference Outline:

I. Introduction

• Welcome Remarks
• Keynote Address
•  

II. Understanding the State of Pension Systems in Developing Countries

• Overview of Current Pension Systems
• Key Challenges Faced by Developing Countries

III. Designing Effective Pension Systems

• Pension Scheme Design Principles
• Options for Pension Scheme Financing
• Addressing Coverage Gaps and Informal Sector Workers

IV. Regulation and Governance

• Regulatory Frameworks and Governance Standards
• Roles of Pension Regulators and Supervisors
• Effective Enforcement and Compliance Mechanisms

V. Innovations in Pension Systems

• Digital Solutions for Pension Delivery
• Pension System Innovations from Developing Countries
• Addressing Climate and ESG Risks in Pension Investments

VI. Case Studies and Best Practices

• Successful Pension System Reforms and Case Studies from Developing Countries
• Global Best Practices in Pension System Design and Implementation
• Lessons Learned and Future Directions

VII. Conclusion and Way Forward

• Summary of Key Insights and Takeaways
• Policy Recommendations for Improving Pension Systems
• Closing Remarks

ACCOMMODATION:

This conference is non-residential. Participants are to lodge in hotels of their choice near the Training centre. A list of these Hotels will be provided on request. 

Date
7th November 2023 - 10th November 2023

Course Overview

The Federal Government of Nigeria has embarked on pension reforms in both the public and private sectors of the Nigerian economy. The purpose of the reforms is partly to shed the burden of pension payment liabilities, harmonize pension schemes in both sectors of the economy, ensure viable investment of pension funds and effect prompt payment of pension benefits.

 The reforms have created mixed feelings among Nigerian workers. There was at the outset a strong feeling among a segment of the workforce that they may lose out in the current dispensation of reforms. There is no doubt that the new pension scheme has come to stay. It is necessary to have an informed dialogue on the new pension scheme and its benefits to the workers, the employers and the Nigerian economy.

Workshop Objective

Retirement is within reach and it's time to get serious about it! This workshop will shed more light on the administration of benefits, deductions and management of employees’ entitlement under the contributory pension scheme. It will also provide you with the information and resources you need to help you map out your retirement plan and introduce you to post-retirement Strategy.

Workshop Outline

Topics discussed during this workshop include:

• The New Pension Reform (2014): An Overview
• Best practice for the administrative of contributory pension scheme
• Prospective retiree – what documents they should keep ready,
• Retirement planning,
• What group life assurance is all about and how to access it, including the period of coverage.
• Implementation of Life Insurance Policy under the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014
• The new method of Pencom enrollment- online enrollment,
• Benefits in contributory pension scheme,
• Retirement Benefits in the New Reform
• Annuity and program withdrawal

Who should attend? 

Bursars, Pension Desk Officers and Managers, Head of Personnel, Heads of Payroll, Human Resource Managers, Pension Fund Administrators, Pension Regulatory Agency, Accountants, Auditors, and others who perform related functions in both Public and Private Sectors

Methodology:

Lecture, discussion, group work, case study and exercises. Audio-visual aids will be used to reinforce these learning methods.

Date
20th June 2023 - 23rd June 2023

The Federal Government of Nigeria has embarked on pension reforms in both the public and private sectors of the Nigerian economy. The purpose of the reforms is partly to shed the burden of pension payment liabilities, harmonize pension schemes in both sectors of the economy, ensure viable investment of pension funds and effect prompt payment of pension benefits.

 The reforms have created mixed feelings among Nigerian workers. There was at the outset a strong feeling among a segment of the workforce that they may lose out in the current dispensation of reforms. There is no doubt that the new pension scheme has come to stay. It is necessary to have an informed dialogue on the new pension scheme and its benefits to the workers, the employers and the Nigerian economy.

This is required for appropriate response by Nigerian managers and workers and management of the new pension scheme. These form the rationale for this conference This workshop covers in-depth understanding of pension plans and the different types of plans, the role of major stakeholders from pensioners to investment advisors as well as the impact and implications for these funds, from the global and regional economic downturn. Detailed information is also provided on modern investment strategies and pension management process with special focus on the investment policy statement and asset allocation.

Who should attend? 

Pension Desk Officers and Managers, Human Resource Managers, Pension Fund Custodians and Administrators, Pension Regulatory Agency, Accountants, Auditors, Lawyers, and others who perform related functions in both Public and Private Sectors

Workshop Profile

• Pension Management
• Pension Plans
• Pension Accounting
• Modern Investment Strategies
• Pension Fund Management
• Pension Act
• Pension Governance
• Pension Consultants
• Pension Risk Management
• Pension Reform Commission

Date
6th June 2023 - 8th June 2023

A Retirement Savings Account (RSA) is a Defined Contribution Plan required under the Pensions Reform Act 2014. It can be opened by every employee in an organization with 3 staff or more. This training works you through the entire process of a retirement saving account, with no stones unturned.

Features/Outlines

• Mandatory: Every employer employing more than 5 employees is mandated by law to open RSA for all employees with a PFA.
• Contributory: Means both the employer and employee will make monthly contributions into the RSA.
• Fully funded: The monthly contributions guarantee that the RSA remain fully funded to meet the liquidity needs at retirement.
• Access to funds begins at 50 years or subject to terms and conditions of service. The contributor has a choice of either a Programmed Withdrawal or Annuity option to receive his/her pension.
• Strictly supervised and regulated by a regulator that has the power of granting licenses and enforcing compliance with PRA 2014.
• Quarterly Statement of Account.

Who Will It Benefit?

All Employees, Professionals, Employers of labor, Administrators, Directors, and Ceo’s.

Date
9th May 2023 - 11th May 2023

This workshop training is tailored towards all employees approaching retirement shortly, or in a few years’ time; they will confront real economic issues after their years of employment in their respective organizations. The course shows that retiring from corporate employment needs not become a calamity. It also introduces participants to post-retirement Entrepreneurship, as they are taken through an orientation of “entrepreneurial personality” which, rather than being characterized by a propensity for risk taking, will among other things focus on one thing – “opportunities maximization.”  

Delegates will learn a number of entrepreneurial logics and be made to dig deep into ideas - underlying a product or service they could think of venturing into, prepare such ideas, getting started, and keeping it going with commitment.

Learning Outcomes

The workshop will also give the participants ways to:

• Identify their talents and personal capabilities that they can utilize elsewhere
• Restructure their lives
• Implement a successful financial life plan
• Invest wisely 
• If desired, start and run own business and become successful entrepreneurs
• Where needed, get new satisfying employment.

Course Outline       

General Retirement Orientation

• State of the economy and prospects faced in retirement
• Coping with severance from corporate employment
• Choice of what to do next.

Investments

• Types of investments currently available in Nigeria
• Guidelines and advice on selecting investment types.

Can You Run Your Own Business?

• Planning a new business
• Business development process.

Entrepreneurship

• A random walk through simple businesses suitable for retirees
• The disciplines for business success
• Preparation of a business plan
• Legal requirements for business.

Nurturing a Business for Profitability

• Structure for a retiree’s business
• Marketing knowledge and selling skills to propagate the business
• Attention to the financial health of the business – capital and cash flow.
• How to Choose an Entrepreneurial Endeavour to Pursue
• The courage to take the leap.

Financial Information

• Capital for the business - the seed money to get started
• A sample Business Cash Flow Projection
• A sample Profit & Loss Account. 

Business Strategy 

• The art of positioning the business
• How to monitor trends to shape the business to success
• A sample business model
• How to grow the business – making the business prosper.

Selling and Marketing

• A sample sales plan 
• How to reach the potential customers
• Promoting the business – publicity, website advertisements, mobile advertisements, other media.

The Product/Service Pricing Principles 

• Pricing a highly differentiated product/service
• Pricing an undifferentiated product/service
• Pricing a “Must Have” product/service
• Pricing a “Substitutable” product/service.

The Retiree’s Job Description as a Business Owner 

• Managing time as a business owner
• Decision making 
• Decision implementation 
• Delegation
• Managing meetings 
• Paper work.

Finding the Right People

• The art of recruiting
• Productivity culture
• Quality and safety culture.

Keeping the Company Legal

• How to go about a Partnership business, if one is being considered
• How to become a Merchant, if trading is being considered
• How to start a Production business, if manufacturing is being considered
• How to start a Service business, if service is being considered.

Locating the Business - the considerations.

Investment Guides

Investment specialists will be brought in to give investment orientation, current opportunities and guides to the participants. 

Health and Leisure

• Ageing gracefully.
• Balancing work and health.
• Health guideposts.

Who Should Attend

• We recommend that employees attend this workshop programme at least three years prior to retirement. By so doing, they are afforded the luxury of time to do everything necessary in good time.
• It’s essential that female employees or the partners of male employees attend before their  pension age even if they intend to work past this age.
• If they don’t, they risk losing lots of money to  pension by failing to have paid sufficient national insurance contributions.
• We do urge employers to allow partners, other family members or a friend to accompany the retiree. This is because retirement will affect all those they interact with. Whether family or friends, our pre-retirement workshop course has various topics that will interest everyone.

Date
18th April 2023 - 20th April 2023

Both leadership and management in the 21st Century are becoming increasingly more complex. Typically, organizations in both the public and private sectors are facing changes driven by political, economic, sociological, technological, legal and environmental issues.

In order to successfully meet these challenges organizations, need to ensure that their leaders and managers at all levels have a comprehensive understanding of their roles, goals and required competencies. This Leadership and Management Skills training course is focused on meeting this requirement.

Course objectives

You will learn about:

• The range of 21st Century competencies
• The need to think strategically
• The principles of managing change
• How to approach and solve problems creatively
• Critical aspects of teamwork
• The process of motivating yourself and others
• Methods for managing conflict
• Techniques for dealing with difficult staff
• Enhance trust, communicate honestly, and establish a positive climate
• Champion change in the contemporary workplace
• Navigate multi-generational and diverse teams
• Build bridges of understanding in chaotic environments

Course outlines

• Introducing
• Identifying key 21st Century leadership challenges
• The focus of great leadership
• Assessing Your Readiness for 21st Century Leadership
• Choosing a new identity
• Revisiting your personal leadership identity
• Challenging your assumptions and perceptions
• Reaching your maximum potential
• Evaluating your scope for growth
• Raising the bar for yourself and others
• Creating Engagement in the Contemporary Workplace
• Creating a positive team dynamic
• Being transparent, open and honest
• Expanding your thinking from your head to your heart
• Moving decision making nearer to the action
• Sharing power through a distributed leadership model
• Building high employee engagement
• Identifying and utilizing drivers for engagement
• Leading rather than managing behaviors
• Overcoming barriers to commitment
• Instilling excellence through learning, sharing and growing
• Creating a Climate of Trust in the Digital Age
• Breaking through technology filters
• Recognizing the limitations of digital communications
• Creating a higher level of openness to counter digital limits
• Re-establishing human-to-human connectivity
• Prioritizing relationship building and collaboration
• Restoring trust in a low-trust climate
• Countering the damaging effects of technology
• Proactively leading through trust
• Championing Change in a VUCA (Volatile/Uncertain/Complex/Ambiguous) World
• Pushing beyond the comfort zone of outdated leadership models
• Moving your organization into unchartered territory
• Inviting diverse perspectives to create commitment to change
• Broadening options for leading change and supporting people
• Making judgment calls that move beyond data and leveraging intuition
• Managing the tension that dilemmas create
• Navigating Multi-Generational and Diverse Teams
• Leveraging diversity to foster growth, strength and innovation
• Developing a global mindset to bridge cultural differences
• Building successful relationships across differences in style, culture and generation
• Structuring team interactions
• Embracing multi-disciplinary teams
• Exposing biases, assumptions and blind spots
• Creating purposeful teams
• Nurturing a diverse and inclusive workplace
• Building Bridges to the New VUCA (Vision/Understanding/Clarity/Agility)
• Responding to VUCA through adaptive leadership
• Communicating clearly with specific intent
• Gaining fresh perspectives and staying flexible
• Seeking the right solutions through the right questions
• Applying a new mindset to lead in turbulent times
• Practicing mindfulness for calmness and clarity
• Demonstrating social intelligence
• Learning from chaos, setbacks and successes
• Powering Up for 21st Century leadership
• Assessing your new leadership competence
• Identifying what you’ve learned and still need to learn
• Crafting your leadership Effectiveness blueprint
• Mapping your leadership journey
• Balancing between producing and leading
• Creating a legacy of excellence

Who should attend?

Managers, business professionals, and individuals who have decided to master the tools and tactics of adaptive leadership in a world where change has become the only constant.

Methodology

This course features the use of interactive exercises in order to allow participants to develop strategies that will help them improve their competencies in adaptive leadership. The course also relies on the analysis of case studies and real-life examples from the business world.

ACCOMMODATION:

This Conference is non-residential. Participants are to lodge in hotels of their choice near the conference centre. A list of these Hotels will be provided on request.

Date
4th April 2023 - 7th April 2023