Unfortunately, on Christmas morning 2018, my dad passed away, leaving my mom, a primary school teacher, with the sole responsibility of raising us. That is when I came to appreciate the importance of having insurance. The “Under the bed” documents were brought out. We put in a claim with LNIG, and the funeral went smoothly.
At the time, my sibling was still in school and again when the time came for him to go back, my mother once again went to her trusted “under the bed” envelope for the educational endowment, this was the same policy that had also paid my way through high school but somehow with my dad being gone and finances being tighter I got to appreciate it more. Having insurance cover was the lifeline we needed.
In May 2019, I then got the opportunity to come work for LNIG. It was supposed to be a 4-day engagement. I was engaged to do record management, and I did great. The contract was extended to a week, then a month and after two months, I had clearly impressed them.
At this time, the assistant IT manager was retiring, and my name was thrown in the hat. During this time, the transition from LNIG to LNIG Hollard was in full swing, so I had an interview with the head of IT for the Hollard group. He told me that they were looking for young talent that they could groom within their culture, and he recommended me to the then managing director and the rest, as they say, is history.
By September, I was on a new contract as an Assistant IT manager and by the end of the year, I had been promoted to IT manager, and 6 months after, I was the Head of IT for LNIG Hollard!
I love how LNIG Hollard recognises talent and rewards it, a culture that has not only benefitted me but my fellow LNIG Hollardites.
During my tenure, I became a father to a beautiful baby girl, and it was a journey fraught with health challenges for my wife and the baby, and this was during an audit! I was very stressed, but that is when I began to see the benefit of a collaborative working culture. Everyone rallied around me, HR kept assuring me that I could focus on family, and my IT team really pulled their weight to ensure that work was done exceptionally well.
As we speak, my daughter has an educator policy because I have seen firsthand how it has impacted my life. I am a living testimony of how securing your children’s future is the greatest gift you can give, and I am proud to contribute to that mission. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that hard work and dedication are rewarded.
