Mrs. Ajibola Ponle, Lagos State Commissioner of Establishment Training and Pensions
Africa’s human capital development in the 21st century is believed to be lowest compared with other parts of the world especially in Nigeria. As technology improves, the world is being digitalized for maximum output and production.
Concerned about the recent trend in the world with regards to digitalization, Africa Oil & Gas Talent Summit, (AOGS) held its 4th summit titled “Transforming People To Human Capital: The leadership imperative for Africa Oil & Gas.”
Speaking at the talent summit, the General Manager, Human Resources, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, Mrs. Alero Onosode, was of the view that looking at talent and how it can be used should be given optimal attention.
Onosode observed that many graduates studied courses they do not have knowledge about and oil & gas sector has a decline of young people.
In terms of digital technology, less than 10% of Nigerian graduates study or have idea about the course. Emphasis on digitalization, no Nigerian university has a course on data analysis while only just 15% of women are in the oil and gas industry.
On the issue of job readiness, there is a major gap as reality on ground shows that many Nigerian youths are not ready hence, they lack ability.
She bemoaned the fact that Oil and gas is losing its appeal, although it has brought financial enhancement but the young generation is not interested due to recent trend on quick money mentally that has pervaded the country. The industry may not attract real talent and the aspect of choice is no longer attractive.
Onosode asked, how can the industry be sold to the young generation? Energy might stay for a long time but alternative sources are developing rapidly with the use of data analysis while the awareness is low to these young minds.
The Seplat HR expert asserted that globalization will lead to transformation with multi-diversity in focus and information is key to collaborate and share ideas. This makes technology significant in workplace.
Emphasizing on technology, she explained further that the use of drowns mitigate impact of employment. Through the use of it in the oil industry, no human effort is needed to watch pipelines, surveillance is done using technology. Technology has adverse effect on the industry due to impact of extract value.
Seplat as an independent company is not left out of technology trend, it deploys technology in its business with multidimensional inclusion.
According to her, generational diversity has come to stay by recognising the entire world for talent and it can be accessed anywhere through technology.
As a HR professional for Seplat, Onosode advocated for individualised strength based on training people to operation, while performance management should be robust because many jobs will be automated. This gives room to use resources optimally since “science has taken over the world and ability of change is necessary.”
Growing the human capital entails that people are brought to an organization to deliver value. HR is to speak the language of the business by creating learning opportunity for growth and enhance the future of the company.
Onosode advice for Nigerian entrepreneurs is to create employment assistance programme to assist employees in an enabling organization with data driven to create opportunity.
In her keynote address on human capital development, the Lagos State Commissioner, Ministry of Establishment, Training & Pensions, Mrs. Ajibola Ponle, opined that human beings are fundamentally adequate, “If you don’t believe that human beings have potentiality, you will not be able to bring that potentiality in them. Man has ability to generate thoughts and ideas.”
Ponle stated that leadership cannot be taught alone in the classroom, “A lot of things done by leaders, they are not conscious about.”
“Think about going deeper in considering leadership development, leadership is key to focus on human development. Factor that demands climate of an organization is leadership. A positive climate of an organization is driven by leadership. There is need to embrace culture of learning and training, Ponle added.”
The Lagos State Commissioner of Establishment, Training & Pensions said universities in Nigeria have strange combination of courses. What is needed for human capital development is relevant courses and training for improvement.
Ponle believed that to transform people to capital is by innovation and creativity starts with failure before success. Therefore, creativity and innovation are killed if people are not encouraged.
She spoke about the vision of Lagos State Government in terms of human capital development that the state has changed the mindset of its employees in terms of workplace planning. The state government is embarking on reforms to have a 21st century economy to develop people.
Human capital development and training cannot be complete without the trainers. Professor of Petroleum, University of Port Harcourt, Mike Onyekonwu, said, National University Commission (NUC) is responsible to set standard for universities. University teach human resources, time management among others. He made it known that creativity, collaboration and citizenship are key factors that should be focused. Companies owe it a duty to make board room relevant.
On China’s strategy of supporting humans with transfer of technology at the expense of host country, Onyekonwu was of the view that infrastructure and human capacity are absent in Nigeria. University deals with large classes without human capacity.
He called on private sector to assist lecturers in the country’s universities, lecturers do not have recent knowledge and technical knowhow. They do not attend conferences for training and are aging, “Without having people with good character, we will not be there.” Professionals should take knowledge to the universities with holistic approach to solve problems in the system.
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