Leader in Nigeria’s fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), Unilever, has been adjudged as the number one ‘Top Employer in Africa’ for the third consecutive year by the Top Employers Institute.
A statement on Tuesday stated that the British-Dutch multinational consumer goods company was certified as the No. 1 Top Employer in Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Ghana, and Kenya.
Responding on the award, the Managing Director, Unilever Nigeria,Yaw Nsarkoh, said, “At Unilever, our goal is to create a brighter future for all. This begins with our employees. Our people are our priority. We strive to foster an environment of mutual trust and respect, developing individual skills and capability as well as encouraging vibrant communication and consultation between employees.
“This recognition is a testament of our commitment to our employees that they can truly be the best they can be at Unilever. As an organisation, by ensuring we have the right values and structures in place, we empower our people to truly succeed.”
Besides the Top Employer Award, the statement added that the company was also named as the number one Fast Moving Consumer Goods company as well as the number one manufacturing company in South Africa.
Speaking on the achievement, the Executive Vice President, Unilever Africa, Bruno Witvoet, said, “For us at Unilever Africa, we work hard to combine our global experience with our deep African roots to develop local talent. So, we are delighted to see our efforts been recognised by the internationally renowned top employers, which is a truly independent and verifiable measure of industry best practice.”
Even before the latest development, Human Resource Partner for Unilever PLC, Henry Ajayi has said that embracing essential skills remains the best bet for early optimization of full potentials in the workplace.
This was the key submission in his presentation titled, ‘Transition from education to work’, at the marketing student award ceremony organised by the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN).
While listing the required skills at workplace to include ability to obtain and process information, adequate communication skills, technical knowledge of job and efficiency of Information and Communication Technology, Ajayi, said the success of any organisation lies in the skills embedded in its employees.
He stressed that the job market today is a struggle, an employer’s market where a lot of requirements are continually updated and that why is the reason many young graduates are struggling to get employment due to lack of the essential skills.
Besides, he said securing job is not a tea party like it used to in the 80s’ where jobs were offered to students upon graduation.
He said “Because the supply outweighs demand, there would always be more people that the jobs available in the country, stating that the more creative a graduate is, the easier he outshine his peers.
“Graduate should be self aware of evolving innovations happening around them by developing themselves gradually in volunteerism and practices.”
In his remarks, Chairman of NIMN Council, Mr. Ganiyu Koledoye decried the spate of unemployment in the country, saying Nigeria can only get bigger if the best skills is instilled in the future of youths.
He said: “Our children are our future, we must make efforts to get things right. As part of our vision, we would be exposing tertiary students to developmental skills on marketing profession.”
