Thread by @OgbeniDipo

Many thanks once again to Dr. Ayoade Alakija (@yodifiji), Chief Humanitarian Coordinator of Nigeria who recommended me to @officialNESG to lead a discussion on Human Capital and Workforce Productivity at this years Nigeria Economic Summit event at Transcorp Hilton Abuja.

As Discussion Leader, I worked closely with Dr Modupe Adefeso-Olateju (@MoAdefeso), Managing Director at The Education Partnership Centre in Lagos, Dr. Marito Garcia from University of Virginia, USA and Dr. Oge Alozie; CEO, Southwest Viral Med, Texas, USA. I was the YOUNGEST😁

@MoAdefeso The discussion focused on How Business Leaders in the Private Sector can Improve Workforce Productivity in Nigeria to Enable Growth of the Identified Competitive Industries such as ICT, Manufacturing, Agriculture, Financial Services, Creative Industry and Extractive Industry.

@MoAdefeso I did a bit of background research and I though it would be great to share with y'all my progressive followers and friends, so at least you know I didn't just fly to Abuja to take pictures and meet with political and business leaders lol

@MoAdefeso Securing the Nigerian population with the appropriate skills/deploying them effectively has proved to be a highly complex challenge for the government and the private sector. As such, it is now imperative that solutions are provided per improving Nigeria's workforce productivity.

@MoAdefeso Solutions are required because the survival and competitiveness of Nigeria on a regional and global basis are dependent on the productivity of the nation’s workforce.

Furthermore, improving the productivity of the workforce is crucial because it will enable growth of several competitive industries such as the ICT, Manufacturing, Agriculture, Financial Services, Creative Industry and the Extractive Industry.

This is even more important now that the Fourth Industrial Revolution is leading to shifts across all industries. This challenge requires new thinking, solutions and planning.

Improving workforce productivity, especially by the private sector in Nigeria is likely to support the delivery of a workforce that is fit for the future. To this end, I propose some recommendations for business leaders or private sector companies in Nigeria.

•Business Leaders need to Set the Context of the Business Environment: Business leaders need to set the context of their organisation in such a way that encourages employees to simultaneously be efficient and flexible.

•Business Leaders must Empower Employees to be more creative, innovative and flexible while engaging in routine and non-routine activities. #NES25

•Set Clear Goals/Expectations: For Nigeria to achieve the highest level of workforce productivity business leaders need to ensure that expectations such as benchmarks, deadlines and realistic objectives are made clear to managers and cascaded to employees on an annual basis.

•Measure Productivity and Provide Merit-Based Incentives for High Performers: This involves rewarding high productive employees who meet their personal goals, lead their departments or subsidiary in achieving their goals or help the business achieve its annual goals. #NES25

•Investment in training and coaching should be available for all employees, not just new employees. This is because training and coaching is integral to workforce productivity and performance and should be part of every business’s management and leadership development programme.

•Build Adaptability and Flexibility in the Business Model: Business leaders need to encourage flexible approaches that doesn't seek long-term precision due to changes in the eternal environment. Basically, favouring emergent strategies over prescriptive strategies. #NES25

•Invest in Company-Wide Communication and Employee Engagement: This is critical because happy and motivated employees make a productive workforce and employee engagement plays an important role in business success.

Other key points for leaders include:
•Create Formal Structure, Clarity of Roles and Responsibilities and Build Synergies within and amongst Teams.

•Ensure Employees are Valued and Trusted.

•Empower Teams to Identify Opportunities for Innovation and Continuous Improvement.

In summary, the imperatives for Nigeria to shift gears to a competitive private sector economy is sacrosanct. And if Nigeria is to achieve regional/global competitiveness by 2050, improving the workforce productivity is very necessary.

I've got a list of references for anyone who wants them.

NB: My initial research had nothing to do with the Government but our discussion covered with the Federal and State Governments need to focus on to improve productivity like going back to the basics - our schools.

So yeah, I didn’t just wear fine suit to Abuja, it was serious work😁!

Thank you once again @yodifiji. And it was super awesome meeting with @bolaakindele1, @BmgMax and @FrankNwekeII 👌🏽

@yodifiji @bolaakindele1 @BmgMax @FrankNwekeII I suspect some of my @BTDTHub will read this thread and say Dipo you need to do more yourself. I promise, I will. We will, collectively. We will get better and certainly, our productivity will improve. In summary again, ati lo ati de🙂

@yodifiji @bolaakindele1 @BmgMax @FrankNwekeII @BTDTHub Quick question for those based in Nigeria: Would you be happy if your employer allows you work from home at least twice in a week or if HR allows some sort of flexible working arrangement? Please vote and RT.

@yodifiji @bolaakindele1 @BmgMax @FrankNwekeII @BTDTHub Question for Nigerian employers, including folks who run small businesses: Are you happy to let your team work from home at least twice or three times in a week?