Experts implore HR practitioners on regular training

EXPERTS have challenged Human Resources (HR) practitioners to put in place regular training programmes as part of measures to help their respectiveorganisations stay ahead of competitors.

Speaking at the 2016 edition of the Learning Leaders’ Forum of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) in Lagos, Human Resource Director, Airtel Nigeria, Gbemiga Owolabi, noted that today’s business environment is faced with so many challenges of untrained staffs, adding that “there is no longer single competitive strategy that works”.

He said: “What we used yesterday is no longer relevant today,” adding that “because we now live in a disruptive world.”
Owolabi said: “There are things that we too are learning, struggling with every day. There are so many unknown factors.

“So, a single strategy will not get you very far, rather, a multiplicity of strategies to survive and thrive. Therefore, organisations need to train staffs, innovate, change and adapt to the changing environment,” he said

Owolabi, who spoke on the theme “Leveraging employee engagement through learning and development”, added that the implication is the need to keep pace with the changing world through learning.

Addressing a gathering of HR practitioners, he stressed that it is the job of the HR to enable his or her organisation achieve its objectives through people, by attracting, developing and retaining the right top talents to deliver the strategic objectives.

He said: “It is our duty to drive down the importance of training and development. You really need to sweat your people-asset, lead them well and ensure that they have the requisite ability and skill to deliver the objectives because the targets don’t come by themselves.”

For HR practitioner to create value and deliver in today’s rapidly changing world, Owolabi explained that learning and development function is “the most crucial function” in an organisation that wants to sustain its competitiveness and profitability.

A learning and development strategy aims to meet employee learning and development needs, ensure optimal human capital development, and build the business management and leadership skills for a strong executive team into the future.

According to experts, when it is well-aligned with overall business objectives, a clear and well-defined learning and development strategy provides the blueprint to develop a talent pipeline that can deliver organisational goals.
Owolabi explained that for it to be seen as crucial for survival, “it must be properly integrated into every HR process to drive productive and performance.

Its our duty, as HR practitioners, to be able to showcase the importance of learning and development.”As a practitioner in the know, he said further that it was no longer enough to come up with a schedule of routine training plan, rather, “make visible the value of learning and development to an organisation. Learning and development are no longer a luxury most organisations can afford”.

He observed that such dimension in Learning and Development is still a challenge globally. He said: “We, therefore, need to make a fundamental shift from where we are currently to a situation of today and the future where learning and development function is seen as a strategic and central function”.

Speaking earlier, CIPM President, Anthony Arabome, explained that the topic could not have come at a better time, “particularly where Learning and Development, which is the forte of the HR, is already the weeping boy of organisations”.

To develop an effective corporate training package, he advised practitioners to include resource use considerations in their learning and development strategy. “Consider whether you will have better gains from in-house training management courses and workshops or if you can make better strategic use of resources by accessing business classes at top business schools.

“The former may offer advantages such as team unity and speed of programme delivery; the latter enables you to tap into leading-edge business expertise.

“Consider the best corporate learning tools and technique within your learning and development strategy. Some of today’s best tools for integrative corporate learning include leadership exercises, leadership coaching, guided case study analysis, flexibly balanced distance and campus learning, and real-world learning in global business hot-spots”.EXPERTS have challenged Human Resources (HR) practitioners to put in place regular training programmes as part of measures to help their respectiveorganisations stay ahead of competitors.

Speaking at the 2016 edition of the Learning Leaders’ Forum of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) in Lagos, Human Resource Director, Airtel Nigeria, Gbemiga Owolabi, noted that today’s business environment is faced with so many challenges of untrained staffs, adding that “there is no longer single competitive strategy that works”.

He said: “What we used yesterday is no longer relevant today,” adding that “because we now live in a disruptive world.”
Owolabi said: “There are things that we too are learning, struggling with every day. There are so many unknown factors.

“So, a single strategy will not get you very far, rather, a multiplicity of strategies to survive and thrive. Therefore, organisations need to train staffs, innovate, change and adapt to the changing environment,” he said

Owolabi, who spoke on the theme “Leveraging employee engagement through learning and development”, added that the implication is the need to keep pace with the changing world through learning.

Addressing a gathering of HR practitioners, he stressed that it is the job of the HR to enable his or her organisation achieve its objectives through people, by attracting, developing and retaining the right top talents to deliver the strategic objectives.

He said: “It is our duty to drive down the importance of training and development. You really need to sweat your people-asset, lead them well and ensure that they have the requisite ability and skill to deliver the objectives because the targets don’t come by themselves.”

For HR practitioner to create value and deliver in today’s rapidly changing world, Owolabi explained that learning and development function is “the most crucial function” in an organisation that wants to sustain its competitiveness and profitability.

A learning and development strategy aims to meet employee learning and development needs, ensure optimal human capital development, and build the business management and leadership skills for a strong executive team into the future.

According to experts, when it is well-aligned with overall business objectives, a clear and well-defined learning and development strategy provides the blueprint to develop a talent pipeline that can deliver organisational goals.
Owolabi explained that for it to be seen as crucial for survival, “it must be properly integrated into every HR process to drive productive and performance.

Its our duty, as HR practitioners, to be able to showcase the importance of learning and development.”As a practitioner in the know, he said further that it was no longer enough to come up with a schedule of routine training plan, rather, “make visible the value of learning and development to an organisation. Learning and development are no longer a luxury most organisations can afford”.

He observed that such dimension in Learning and Development is still a challenge globally. He said: “We, therefore, need to make a fundamental shift from where we are currently to a situation of today and the future where learning and development function is seen as a strategic and central function”.

Speaking earlier, CIPM President, Anthony Arabome, explained that the topic could not have come at a better time, “particularly where Learning and Development, which is the forte of the HR, is already the weeping boy of organisations”.

To develop an effective corporate training package, he advised practitioners to include resource use considerations in their learning and development strategy. “Consider whether you will have better gains from in-house training management courses and workshops or if you can make better strategic use of resources by accessing business classes at top business schools.

“The former may offer advantages such as team unity and speed of programme delivery; the latter enables you to tap into leading-edge business expertise.

“Consider the best corporate learning tools and technique within your learning and development strategy. Some of today’s best tools for integrative corporate learning include leadership exercises, leadership coaching, guided case study analysis, flexibly balanced distance and campus learning, and real-world learning in global business hot-spots”.


With The Guardian

PDP Attack Buhari On Judiciary Statement

The Acting Chairman Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus  urges the judiciary, as the last hope of the common man, to continue to assert its independence and not allow itself to be deterred from upholding justice and the rule of law, no matter the pressure, the remark came during the inauguration of the Caretaker Committee of Imo state PDP.

"The judicial community and in fact, all discerning Nigerians were shocked by the release by the Presidency on Sunday wherein President Muhammadu Buhari was quoted to have described the judiciary as the ‘major headache’ of his administration."

He further said the statement is a direct affront on the statutorily guaranteed independence of the judiciary and more worrisome is the fact that a President of a country had to tie back already settled judgments of the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, in cases involving him, as a benchmark of his assessment of the institution of the judiciary at the moment.

"While we express worry at the attacks on the judicial arm of government, we are aware that they are intended to blackmail and stampede the judiciary to deliver judgments against the PDP in various pending cases involving our party and some of our leaders in the courts."

"While we urge the judiciary to ensure that it adequately guards its flanks from all external influences, we also caution the executive to focus on governance, while respecting the constitutionally guaranteed principle of separation of powers by allowing the judiciary and the legislature indeed, all statutory arms of government to freely operate within the bounds provided by our laws."

"The PDP wishes to call on critical stakeholders to appreciate the fact that the Judiciary, in its nature as an arbiter, cannot join issues with the other arms, and such needs to be defended from the brazen blackmail by the APC-led Government."

He charged the committee to be fair, just and balanced, accommodate every interest and restore Imo PDP to winning ways, especially as APC government in the state has failed woefully.

Nigeria, Italy Sign Agreement On Police Training And Logistics Supply

The Nigerian and Italian government on Monday in Abuja signed an agreement on intelligence sharing, capacity building and provision of logistics that will enhance the operations of the Nigeria Police.

The signing of agreement, witnessed by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Italian Prime Minister, Mr. Matteo Renzi, in the State House was part of bilateral meeting between the two countries which covered issues on energy, security, agriculture, immigration, human and drug trafficking, infrastructure and education.

The agreement on enhancing cooperation between the Nigerian and Italian Police was signed by the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase and the Italian National Police Chief, Alessandro Pansa.

Speaking at the bilateral meeting, President Buhari said he was impressed with the relationship between Nigeria and Italy over the years, especially in the areas of security, construction, oil and gas and the exploration of solid minerals.

‘‘I am impressed by the resilience and commitment of the Italian business to Nigeria’s development shown by the Italian construction companies and companies in the oil sector.

‘‘I am happy to hear that an Italian oil company, Eni ltd, is investing 4 billion U S dollars in the coming three years in the economy spite of the downward spiral of oil prices,’’ the President said.

In his remarks, the Italian Prime Minister said his country will support Nigeria in the ongoing fight against corruption, terrorism and also encourage Italian companies to invest more in sectors that will enable growth and create jobs for Nigerians like power, agriculture and solid minerals.

President Buhari to continue push for global unity against terrorism

President Muhammadu Buhari will begin an official visit to France and Britain tomorrow, Tuesday, February 2, 2016.

At his first stop in Strasbourg, France, President Buhari will on Wednesday, February 3, address a special session of the European Union Parliament to be attended by members of the executive and legislative arms of the Union.

The President's address is expected to focus on terrorism, violent extremism, corruption, Nigeria and Africa's current security, economic and developmental challenges, as well as the need for  greater support from the European Union and advanced nations for their rapid resolution.

President Buhari will also hold talks with the President of the European Parliament, Mr. Martin Schulz and the President of the European Commission, Mr. Jean-Claude Juncker on the same issues before leaving Strasbourg for London to join other world leaders at the Supporting Syria and The Region Conference scheduled to open in the British capital on Thursday, February 4, 2016.

The President will use the opportunity of his participation in the conference which is being co-hosted by Britain, Germany, Norway, Kuwait and the United Nations to continue his push for more global understanding, collaboration and support for Nigeria and other countries in the frontlines of the war against terrorism who are striving to overcome  its very  adverse effects on affected populations.

He is due back in Nigeria at the weekend.

Instagram imams are unlikely online hit

They shoot hoops with schoolgirls, pose with Christmas trees to wish seasons greetings to Christians and even make the tea. These are not images of Iranian clerics which the world is so used to seeing.

But an Instagram account that posts pictures of Islamic scholars in everyday situations has become a social media success in Iran and has more than 12,000 followers.

The page is called "Talabeh Today" - a Talabeh being a seminary student who pursues religious studies and who is supposed to adopt a simple devotional lifestyle.

It was started by an Iranian seminary student called Masoud Zareian, from the northeastern city of Mashhad, in an attempt to improve the image of conservative clergy and highlight their relevance to contemporary life.

The stereotype of an Iranian cleric is often that of a fiery speaker, addressing a crowd chanting slogans against "western imperialism". Liberal Iranians might also tend to think of them as a symbol of all that's wrong with life in the Islamic Republic.

The traditionally much-respected men in society rose to influence the life of ordinary Iranians in one way or the other, some argue for the worse, after the 1979 revolution which toppled the Shah. The admiration they enjoyed has gradually faded as some Iranians believe they have not practised what they preached.

Zareian, who as well as being a talabeh is also a documentary filmmaker, is a supporter of Iran's clerical establishment. And his decision to use Instagram to portray the nuances of contemporary clerical life is not as odd as it may at first seem. Instagram is very popular in Iran, not only among the urban youth but among conservative sections of society. Twitter and Facebook are officially banned.

With BBC