In a keynote speech, Dr Remi Oni, group executive director at TGI Group, highlighted the importance of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for Nigeria’s industrial growth.

“Germany’s economic miracle, South Korea’s industrial boom, and Japan’s rapid growth can all be traced back to a strong emphasis on technical and vocational education”, Oni said. “These countries have consistently invested in developing a skilled workforce, which has been the bedrock of their economic achievements. It is this workforce that continues to create, innovate, and maintain critical infrastructure that fuels sustainable growth”.

Dr Oni stressed that while Nigeria has improved its infrastructure, a shortage of skilled professionals remains challenging. “Hospitals, railways, and factories need capable technicians and specialists to keep things running and expanding,” he said.

In a later panel discussion on vocational education and digital skills, TGI Group’s Head of Corporate Communication, Rafiat Gawat stressed that aligning skills programmes with industry needs is key to creating a more robust workforce and encouraging breaking down the stigma around polytechnic education.

“We need to stop making polytechnic education or skills acquisition seem like a lesser choice. It should be valued alongside degree education. When students graduate with hands-on experience, they are better equipped for the job market”.

The event emphasised the growing economic cooperation between the two nations, with over 90 German companies operating in Nigeria.

This was highlighted by Akinkunle Akinpelu, director of Group Human Resources, TGI Group, during the “Green and Digital Jobs: Expanding the Frontiers and Pragmatic Approach towards the Creation of Decent Jobs” panel at the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) Summit in Abuja recently.

“TGI is deeply committed to sustainability, which is a core element of our HR strategy as well,” said Akinpelu.

“In the past five years, we’ve hired hundreds of young professionals worldwide to tackle environmental challenges. Our teams work on projects ranging from afforestation and water management to energy-saving initiatives.”

TGI Group is also making significant strides in digital transformation. “We constantly employ world-class solutions to overhaul our processes where necessary,” Akinpelu explained. “This digital shift not only enhances efficiency but empowers a new generation of professionals bringing fresh solutions and perspectives.”

Highlighting TGI’s innovative approach, Akinpelu showcased the Group’s efforts in generating renewable energy.

“Our 250,000 metric tonnes rice plant in Argungu, Kebbi State operates without fossil fuels. Also, we recycle rice husks to generate power. By 2025, several of our factories will tow the same line, thereby reducing carbon emissions and promoting cleaner air.”

The panel, which featured industry leaders including Mr. Olasunkanmi Adenuga, MD of Workforce Nigeria, Dr Afiz Oluwatoyin, DG Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Dr Vanessa Phala, Director, International Labour Organisation (ILO) Abuja, Dr Eugene Itua, MD of Natural Eco Capita, and Dr Emmanuel Okeleji, CEO Seamless HR, emphasized the critical role of green and digital jobs in Nigeria’s economic development.

TGI Group is at the forefront of this movement, demonstrating that economic growth can go hand-in-hand with environmental stewardship and digital innovation.

==The End==

This initiative, spearheaded by the Women in TGI Committee, is designed to empower and promote inclusivity for women in the workplace, reflecting TGI’s commitment to diversity. The webinar will be held on Friday, December 1, 2023, at 11:00 am with the theme: Building an Inclusive and Sustainable Tomorrow: Gender Diversity & ESG.

The webinar will feature an esteemed lineup of speakers, including Aisha Abubakar, Non-Executive Director, Union Bank, as the keynote speaker. Other speakers include Samirah Bello, Partnership Lead, Thrive Agric; Vivian Imoh-Ita, Head of Retail Banking, Union Bank of Nigeria; Tolulope Babajide, Gender Network Manager, FSD Africa; Maria Christodoulou, Sustainability Manager, TGI Group; Habiba Suleiman, Group Head – Strategic Partnerships, TGI Group; and Yosola Onanuga, Group Head – Sustainability, TGI Group. They will share valuable insights, best practices, and strategies for seamlessly integrating gender diversity and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations into TGI’s business operations.

Onome Agomate, HR Director – Non-Agri-Business, TGI Group and Chair of the Women in TGI Committee, expressed the committee’s dedication to supporting the Group in creating an environment where women feel valued and supported. She emphasized the goal of providing tangible pathways for the advancement of women within TGI Group, going beyond mere representation.

“One of our core values as a Group is Diversity and Inclusion” Agomate stated. “Our commitment to these values goes beyond lip service; we will continue to ensure that avenues are provided for women to excel, grow, and shape the future of TGI Group.”

Remi Oni, Executive Director, TGI Group, added, “Empowering women is not just a moral imperative but a strategic advantage. The Women in TGI Webinar Series is a key step in fostering a workplace culture that not only celebrates women’s strengths and contributions, but also ensures that we create an environment for women to thrive.”

The webinar is open to everyone and interested participants can register by clicking the link HERE. More information is available on the group’s social media pages.

The Women in TGI Committee’s mandate focuses on improving attraction, selection, development, representation, and retention at all levels of the organization, and to serve as an example to other organizations.

The YPP is a comprehensive talent development program designed to provide emerging professionals with a unique opportunity to deepen their knowledge, cultivate essential leadership skills, and realize their career aspirations.

The YP Program includes 6-month immersive training tailored to individual development needs, mentorship and guidance from highly qualified and well-established professionals and leaders in TGI, seasoned industry experts, and exposure to diverse industries and markets, including Africa, The Middle East, and Asia.

Participants would also get hands-on experience across TGI Group’s businesses and opportunities for career advancement within the organization.

Speaking on the importance of the initiative, Akinkunle Akinpelu, Group Human Resources Director – TGI Group, said, “Our people are our greatest assets; therefore, we focus on not only retaining the best hands, but also attracting the best, catching them young and growing with them as they grow within the organization. The YPP embodies this commitment, offering aspiring professionals the chance to work across our numerous businesses upon successful completion of the programme.”

The program is open to individuals with Bachelor’s and Higher National Diplomas in Engineering, Social Sciences, Agriculture, Sciences, and other disciplines relevant to the TGI Group’s diverse portfolio of businesses.

Interested applicants are encouraged to visit the company’s career page for further information on how to apply.

TGI Group’s commitment to developing talents and skilled professionals was recently acknowledged, with LinkedIn including it among the Top 25 Best Workplaces where people can grow their careers in the 2023 LinkedIn Top Companies list.

The LinkedIn Top Companies list ranks the top 25 companies investing in their employees and helping them build careers that will set them up for long-term success.

Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group is a global conglomerate with most of its investments in emerging markets.

TGI’s investments focus on driving inclusivity and value addition using locally sourced raw materials, state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and a highly skilled workforce to produce world-class products consumed locally and exported to global markets.

Gumel acknowledged the inevitability of passing some costs to consumers but stressed the need for manufacturers to think creatively to reduce production expenses while ensuring their products remain affordable.

He emphasized that these efforts are essential for the long-term sustainability of businesses.

“In the diverse landscape of Africa, cost considerations can be complex,” explained Gumel. “The balance between inclusion and efficiency is unique due to the division between urban and rural centres. For us to foster an inclusive economy, we must focus on creating opportunities where unskilled labour can be engaged. This means a certain level of operational inefficiency may be required, but it pays back as community engagement ultimately guarantees the safety and security of investments.”

Gumel highlighted various strategies companies can adopt to lower production costs without compromising product quality. “Examining packaging, optimizing product quality, and streamlining distribution costs are all areas ripe for cost reduction. We regularly assess our packaging choices at TGI, considering factors such as ink type, colour selection, and raw materials. We evaluate where and how to advertise based on our target consumers – should we go digital, opt for print, TV, or radio?”

He emphasized the importance of quality products, noting that they enhance brand affinity. “When your product carries a story and positively impacts the job market, consumers naturally gravitate towards it,” said Gumel.

Regarding TGI’s approach, Gumel highlighted their collaboration with development agencies to optimize resources. “We work closely with partners who provide grants and training, helping us improve while managing our production and distribution costs. While some cost increases are inevitable, careful control can significantly mitigate their impact.”

Gumel’s insightful remarks underscore the delicate balance that African manufacturers must strike to navigate the challenges of inflation and consumer affordability. His experience and commitment to innovative cost management inspire the industry, showcasing the potential for growth while maintaining product quality and affordability.

Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group is a global conglomerate with most of its investments in emerging markets. TGI’s investments focus on driving inclusivity and value addition using locally sourced raw materials, state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and a highly skilled workforce to produce world-class products consumed locally and exported to global markets.

TGI Group is the parent company of WACOT Rice, CORMART, and CHI Farms, among others.

The LinkedIn Top Companies list ranks the top 25 companies investing in their employees and helping them build careers that will set them up for long-term success.

TGI Group has an impressive track record in fast-moving consumer goods, agriculture, and energy and was recognized for performing excellently on the eight assessment pillars used for the second annual ranking.

These pillars include the ability to advance, skills growth, company stability, external opportunity, company affinity, gender diversity, educational background, and employee presence in the country. The insights for the ranking were sourced from LinkedIn Talent Insights, including the parent company and majority-owned subsidiaries.

Among TGI’s most prominent skills, LinkedIn listed Payroll Services, Enterprise Software, and Product Testing.

Its most common job titles were Sales Manager and Sales Executive. The most common job titles were Sales Manager and Sales Executive, and the most prominent job functions were Sales, Operations, and Quality Assurance.

Rafiat Gawat, Group Head of Corporate Communication, expressed her enthusiasm for the recent achievement of Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group, stating that the recognition by LinkedIn marks a significant milestone in the organization’s growth trajectory.

“We are very excited about this. It’s a huge achievement for Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group. Those who have been with the Group long enough can attest to how much we have grown as an organization. We have come such a long way especially in recent years, and the future is bright. And it is indeed satisfying that our efforts are being recognized and validated by organizations such as LinkedIn. As they say, the reward for hard work is more work, so this is another reason for us to do even more to improve employee experience for TGI Associates”, she concluded.

In explaining the assessment pillars, LinkedIn stated that the ability to advance tracks employee promotions within a company and when they move to a new company based on standardized job titles. Skills growth looks at how employees across the company gain skills while employed at the company, using standardized LinkedIn skills.

Company stability tracks attrition over the past year and the percentage of employees that stay at the company for at least three years. External opportunity looks at recruiter outreach across employees at the company, signalling demand for workers from these companies. Company affinity measures how supportive a company’s culture is and looks at connection volume on LinkedIn among employees, controlled for company size.

Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group is a global conglomerate with majority of its investments in emerging markets.

TGI’s investments focus on driving inclusivity and value addition using locally sourced raw materials, state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and a highly skilled workforce to produce world-class products consumed locally and exported to global markets. TGI Group is the parent company of WACOT Rice, CORMART, CHI Farms among others.