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Japa: Backward Integration.

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Talents are sneezing and employers are rushing to the pharmacy to get drugs for flu. How did we get here?Profits were dwindling. We must cut cost. No one touched remuneration and benefits packages of the top guns. Oh they have paid their dues, we were told, and we must hold their variable and invariable pay constant, no matter what.

First point of cost cutting call; HR. First line item in HR; learning and development. Rather than invest in the workforce and then build a solid bench strength through investing in people, we preferred to hire from outside at a premium, mostly. We focused on ready-made talents to take our businesses to ‘the next level’.

As an instance, check the tech space and tech roles. There’s a joke in town that simple transactions on banking apps are witnessing a ‘go-slow’ because the tech boys have all left town. Hahaha!

The chicken has now come home to roost. Ready-made talents are all headed for ready-made markets and economies. We are left with those we didn’t develop. Leadership seems confused and exasperated. The falcon can no longer hear the falconer, Japa is upon us (not so) suddenly. The talents we didn’t build may jeopardize the businesses we have built.

Time to go back to the basics. We must back-track. Rather than chasing the shadows of those who have left or are leaving, let’s keep the focus on the substance of a pipeline. And on nurturing and developing them. The right leadership and culture and great employee experience may just make them stay a bit longer.

One more step backwards; what can we do to get the younger generation ready for the world of work. Calls for collaboration and partnerships. The returns will not be immediate but ultimately it will pay off. Time to invest in the gains of the future.

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the next best time is NOW (not my words). Recruiters are busy this period. HR has suddenly become the new bride in many organizations. Too little too late? HR too has joined the japa train!

Mine are just options, there are other solutions. The conversation continues. Time tells the full story…

 

Yemi Faseun
Chief Talent Officer

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As Nigeria continues to grapple with economic headwinds, new data from the Debt Management Office (DMO) has shed light on the growing financial burdens carried by state governments across the country. Topping the list is Lagos State, with a staggering domestic debt of ₦900.19 billion as of December 2024—more than double that of the second-highest debtor, Rivers State.

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Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a significant asset to Northern Nigeria and the country as a whole, urging citizens to dismiss what he termed “baseless and politically motivated” criticisms against the president.

In a statement released on Friday and signed by his Special Assistant on Political Affairs, Ibrahim Goga, Matawalle, who previously served as Governor of Zamfara State, condemned recent attacks on Tinubu, asserting that they are driven by individuals who failed to secure their political ambitions.

“President Tinubu has demonstrated an uncommon commitment to addressing the challenges facing our region,” the minister stated. “Those attacking him with propaganda are only seeking relevance after failing to secure their political future.”

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In a powerful intervention against digital exclusion, a UK-based Nigerian tech entrepreneur, Wale Atekoja, is rewriting the future of disadvantaged children in Lagos, one line of code at a time.

His organization, Borderless Tek, has launched the Kids Coding Partnership — a grassroots tech education program designed to equip underprivileged schoolchildren in communities like Ikorodu and Yaba with foundational coding and software development skills, completely free of charge.

This is not just another CSR initiative. It’s a deliberate human-centered response to the growing digital divide that continues to marginalize low-income Nigerian children from the technology revolution sweeping the globe.

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The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has welcomed the Gambian Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Hon. Lamin Jabbi, Esq., to the Nigerian Pavilion at the ongoing GITEX Africa in Marrakech.

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A renowned radio personality and social commentator, Hon. Obi-West Utchaychukwuo, has sparked conversation on social media with his bold statement debunking the myth surrounding wealthy individuals from Southeast Nigeria. According to Utchaychukwuo, the wealth of Igbo businessmen is not rooted in ritual practices but in hard work, smart networking, and deep business acumen.

In a recent statement shared online, Utchaychukwuo noted that the southeastern region of Nigeria, predominantly occupied by the Igbo ethnic group, is home to the highest number of self-made billionaires in the country. “These are not people who looted public funds,” he emphasized, “but entrepreneurs who have built legitimate empires.”

He pointed to events such as the high-profile burial ceremony of Obi Cubana’s mother, which drew nationwide attention due to the extravagant displays of wealth. While some questioned the sources of the funds, Utchaychukwuo clarified that many of those in attendance were top importers, exporters, and sole distributors…

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A new report has shed light on the economic vulnerability of Nigerian households, showing significant disparities in poverty risk across the country’s six geopolitical zones. The data, compiled by the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (GMPI) in collaboration with the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and published by Statisense, highlights the percentage of households in each region that are considered vulnerable to poverty in 2023.

According to the report, the North Central zone tops the list with 22.58% of households identified as being at risk of falling below the poverty line. This is closely followed by the North East, where 21.47% of households are vulnerable, reflecting the ongoing socio-economic challenges and insecurity that have plagued the region.

In the South South, often regarded as Nigeria’s oil-rich zone, 19.44% of households remain vulnerable to poverty. Despite the region’s resource wealth, many communities continue to struggle with underdevelopment and economic instability.

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Nigeria’s leading tier-1 banks, commonly referred to as FUGAZ – comprising First Bank, UBA, GTBank, Access Holdings, and Zenith Bank – have reported their full-year 2024 financial results, revealing a year of significant profitability, robust asset growth, and varied levels of return on assets (RoA). The figures reflect strong resilience and performance amidst economic headwinds and changing monetary dynamics in the country.

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South East Leads in Milk Consumption as Experts Call for Wider Dairy Access Across Nigeria

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By Anthony Nwosu – Lagos

The South East region of Nigeria has emerged as the leading zone in milk consumption, with a record 54.7% of households reportedly consuming milk and dairy products regularly. This is according to the latest 2023/2024 data released by Statisense using figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the General Household Survey (GHS), and the Living Standards Measurement Study (LSMS).

The national average of milk consumption stands at 41.5%, with other zones falling behind the South East. The South South region follows closely at 50.1%, while the South West records 48.3%. However, the figures drop significantly in the North: North West (37.6%), North Central (29.4%), and North East (23.3%).

Health and nutrition experts say these numbers reflect the socio-economic imbalance in Nigeria, where access to nutritious foods like milk is often dictated by purchasing power and awareness.

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