PenCom to Host 2nd Edition of WorldPensionSummit 'Africa Special'

LONDON, September 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Annual Pan African Platform on Pensions in Abuja, 5 & 6 October 2015 

Nigeria will host the second edition of the World Pension Summit 'Africa Special' (WPS-AS) on 5 - 6 October, 2015 in Abuja, Nigeria.

The Summit is an annual event organized by the National Pension Commission, Nigeria and the World Pension Summit, the Netherlands to bring together leading players and decision makers in the pension industry in Africa, as well as key figures in finance and pensions from across the world.  The maiden edition of the Summit, which was held in July 2014, was a great success with over 400 attendees from across Africa.

The theme of this year's summit is "Building Sustainable Pension Systems in Africa" and aims to focus on how to entrench enduring pension systems across Africa with particular emphasis on channeling pension funds towards addressing the huge infrastructure deficit on the continent. Global experts and thought leaders, together with key practitioners, will debate and exchange ideas on developing and structuring sustainable pension systems for African nations. A unique addition to this year's summit is the introduction of high level regional reports on the advancement of pension systems within the region. This novel concept seeks to highlight developments within the pension space in Africa and showcase how the inaugural edition of the Summit has assisted various African countries in improving their pension uptake and the quality of services rendered by their administrators and regulators of pensions.

A highlight of this year's Summit will be the Africa Pension Awards ceremony, which was initiated to encourage good and innovative practices in pension administration in Africa. The awards will recognize excellence and commitment to the development of pensions in Africa.

Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, the Director General of PenCom, said: "The Summit will provide a platform for pension regulators and operators in Africa to brace up to the challenge of positively contributing to the socio-economic growth of the continent, whilst also ensuring that retirement benefits are paid as and when due".

Harry Smorenberg, Founder & Chairman of the World Pension Summit, said "Africa's growth story, particularly Nigeria as its largest economy, has been well documented. But with such growth comes a responsibility, expectation and opportunity to leverage capital growth, using pension funds as an instrument for further economic and social development".

WorldPensionSummit 'Africa Special' is the platform for pension stakeholders in Africa to build stronger relationships and exchange ideas as well as provide pension professionals an opportunity to network and share experiences on global developments in pensions administration.

About The National Pension Commission (PenCom) 

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) is a public institution established to regulate, supervise and ensure effective administration of pension matters in Nigeria. PenCom was established following the pension reform in 2004 that culminated in a paradigm shift in Nigeria's pension system from the Defined Benefit Scheme to Defined Contributory Pension Scheme. In its ten years of existence, PenCom has painstakingly built a strong, transparent and dependable pension system in Nigeria, which is overseen by a dynamic and efficient regulatory structure. PenCom is poised to stimulate further socio-economic development, job creation and economic sustenance by ensuring that pension funds are strategically and securely channeled towards the financing of infrastructure and other developmental projects in the real sector.

About the WorldPensionSummit 

WorldPensionSummit has grown into one of the world's leading platforms for pension professionals. Every year over 400 strategists from more than 45 nations participate and debate relevant innovations in retirement. The WorldPensionSummit provides exactly the information you need to keep abreast of emerging global pension trends. This summit is the only event that addresses all relevant pension issues in one comprehensive program tailored for senior professionals and is completely organized for and by professionals, ensuring the highest quality program in all aspects. With the 'Africa Special', WorldPensionSummit focuses on relevant regional developments and tailored solutions within an important growing continent. WorldPensionSummit will hold its 6th annual global Summit on 10 & 11 September 2015 in The Hague. Continuing in 2015 regional and dedicated "specials" havebeen introduced in APAC and Middle East.

To access the conference site and programme: http://www.worldpensionsummitafricaspecial.com