Assessing the Awareness Level of Actuarial Science Among Staff and Students of Nigerian Universities: A Study of University of Jos.

With its recent introduction as a course of study in the University of Jos, the number of students applying to study actuarial science in the University remains dismally low. This study was designed to assess the awareness level of actuarial science in the University of Jos community. Primary data
obtained with a semi-structured questionnaire administered on 280 respondents comprising academic and non-academic staff and students was analyzed using Descriptive statistical techniques. The study revealed that although the majority of the respondents were aware of actuarial
science as a discipline, a considerable number of respondents had not heard about it until now. However, a considerable number of respondents are still in the dark about what actuarial science is and many respondents think that actuarial science and insurance are one and the same. Others are of the belief that actuarial science has to do with auditing and accounting. Still, many others have no idea at all of what it is about. From these findings, there is need for more awareness to be created about the relevance and prospects of actuarial science as it is clear that the number of professional actuaries in Nigeria is far from adequate. To generate interest in the study of actuarial science so as to groom future professionals, it is suggested that deliberate and concerted efforts be made by policy makers, universities and other institutions involved in the training of actuarial science graduates and professional actuaries to educate the general public on the relevance of actuarial science and practice in risk management and decision making not only in the insurance and pension industries, but also in other business organizations.

Actuarial science, Awareness, Level, Staff, Students, University.