As a build-up to this event, the Dive In team conducted a survey to understand the issues females in the insurance sectors are facing, the possible limitations on their rise to leadership, and how they are navigating these challenges. This survey showed that despite the ambition to attain a top-level in their career; young female professionals in the Insurance sector are largely constrained by inadequate opportunities relative to gender bias, unequal pay, and harassment.

The survey further highlighted that females are willing and ready to take up more challenging roles within the sector and have to resort to professional bodies for support and guidance in their careers. Some leading females in the industry also lend their voice to the younger female professionals in insurance & finance in a campaign titled “Letters to my younger self”. They shared lessons that would help the younger generation develop a mindset and character required for success within the sector.

At a time when the world is changing at a faster rate, with newer challenges emerging, the corporate environment needs to explore all talents and resources by creating an environment for them to thrive irrespective of gender and experience

To examine some of these challenges faced by young female professionals in the Nigerian Insurance sector, Dive In Festival hosted reputable leaders in the sector to the Dive In’ Nigeria Festival themed “Promoting Inclusion & Diversity in the Nigerian Insurance Industry for a Quantum Leap”  to discuss new possibilities that will spur participants to break boundaries in risk management and insurance.

Speakers included Adetola Adegbayi, Executive Director, General Insurance Business Division, Leadway Assurance Company Ltd, a Legal Practitioner with extensive experience in Legal Research, Corporate Legal Practice, Insurance, and Financial Services; Nike Anani, Co-Founder African Family Firms, a firm dedicated to assisting second-generation family members (“NextGens”) in identifying and implementing new opportunities, shortening the journey from identification to impact.

Founder, The Funmi Omo Initiative and Former Managing Director in African Alliance Insurance Plc, Funmi Omo, (recognized as one of the top 100 women CEOs in Africa by Reset Global People), Dr. Corneille Karekezi, Group MD/CEO, African Re Group, and Ibitunde Balogun, Executive Director Tangerine Life Insurance Limited. The event was moderated by financial broadcast journalist and business anchor at CNBC Africa, Esther Awoniyi.

At the event, Adetola Adegbayi when asked about her thoughts on revitalizing diversity and inclusion initiatives and drive engagement going forward said; “We need to look at not just women but also men who are disadvantaged, physically challenged people when addressing diversity and inclusion. It doesn’t matter whether you are formally educated or not, as people what matters is how we make use of our abilities to deliver.” She ended her presentation by stressing on the need to celebrate the difference in togetherness and balancing equality with equity.

Speaking further on the topic when asked by the moderator, Esther Awoniyi, on her thoughts on diversity and inclusion in trans-generational wealth and family business, Co-founder, African Family Firms, Nike Anani said, “Women stand to lose out the most when businesses fail to move to the next generation. Insurance has however turned out to be a risk management tool to protect women’s interest and other threatening issues that might ensue from lack of trans-generational wealth transfer.”

In a closing statement to a question asked by a member of the audience, on strategies that insurance companies should adopt to get more youths interested in applying for jobs, Executive Director at Tangerine life Insurance, Ibitunde Balogun, who is also exceptional at mentoring millennials for leadership said, “The Insurance Industry currently falls into the least paying jobs in the financial service sector and this itself discourages youths from pursuing a career in this line. “ Addressing Insurance leaders, he further stated, “You need to make insurance more attractive to the new age. The new generation wants good remuneration for work done, work-life balance, and flexibility in their jobs.”

Dive In is a global movement in the insurance sector to support the development of inclusive workplace cultures. Its mission is to enable people to achieve their potential by raising awareness of the business case and promoting positive action for diversity in all its forms.

This year’s theme “Promoting Inclusion & Diversity in the Nigerian Insurance Industry for a Quantum Leap”, highlights the current situation of women in the insurance industry, the roles they play, and the future of organizations if inclusion and gender diversity are promoted. The new virtual format of the festival makes it widely accessible by hundreds of attendees per event and for the first time, attendees will be able to partake in the Dive In events across the globe, regardless of geography.

Reflecting on this year’s festival Dominic Christian, Global Chairman of Aon’s Reinsurance Solutions, sponsors of Dive In Nigeria said: “In light of recent events, the Dive In Festival’s mission is to advance the development of inclusive cultures that are vital for businesses and great for people is more important than ever.”  “Once again, we will be active in over 30 countries this year, and our 500+ speakers and volunteers look forward to once again welcoming many thousands of participants all over the world for a packed schedule of inspirational and educational events.” he said.

Further speaking on the expectations on this 2020 Dive In Event, GMD/CEO at one of the leading pan-African reinsurer – African Reinsurance Corporation, Dr. Corneille Karekezi said:  “As an equal opportunity employer, we expect stakeholders to share experiences covering challenges, successes and lessons learned in talent sourcing and talent management strategies that promote and sustain gender diversity across all levels of organizations in the industry. As such the Dive-In festival is a very important and necessary movement needed to change the narrative on diversity and inclusion in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.”

Dive In is a global movement in the insurance sector to support the development of inclusive workplace cultures. Its mission is to enable people to achieve their potential by raising awareness of the business case and promoting positive action for diversity in all its forms. Registration for the insurance industry’s well-established festival for Diversity and Inclusion, Dive In, is accessible via https://diveinfestival.com/

Supporting this year’s festival are a host of Global Festival Partners, including AIG, Aon, Aviva, AXA, Chubb, CNA, DLA Piper, Kennedys, Lloyd’s, Markel, Marsh & Guy Carpenter, MS Amlin, RenaissanceRe, RMS, Travelers, Tokio Marine Kiln and Willis Towers Watson.

Information on previous festivals and about global inclusion and diversity in the insurance sector is available on the event website.

The three-day event simply referred to as ALitFest – Abuja Literary and Arts Festival – will hold from August 13th – 15th 2020.

In order to welcome wider participation of the growing literary community in Africa, the festival is going virtual and would be held on the webinar platform Hopin (hopin.to).

“With this, we aim to breach geographical barriers through inclusion and Pan-Africanism,” says Teniola Tayo, the newly appointed Festival Director.

To be part of the festival, registration can be done here
The organizers have strived to make registration free but are equally seeking the support of any individuals that may be in a position to do so through paid tickets.

The organizers also added that festival guests that are new and existing 9Mobile users will have access to a special data package that will drastically reduce the internet cost of joining the three-day festival in acknowledgment of the real financial barriers that impede the movement of interactions to online spaces in the developing world. More information would be provided after registration.

The theme for #ALitFest20 “The Art of Empathy” hopes to highlight the importance, beauty, and need for diversity and difference as well as the role of the creative in building bridges within and across societies.

As such, the panels and events have been curated to help participants explore several important societal issues such as tribalism, racism, homophobia, misogyny (also misogynoir), classism, and other relevant issues.

From the unique perspectives of creative minds, this year’s edition of #ALitFest seeks to help people see the world through the eyes of others.
The Festival program includes panel discussions hosted by intellectual panelists from diverse backgrounds including Nwando Achebe, Edwige Dro, Sawad Hussain, Dike Chukwumerije, Kola Tubosun, Tsitsi Dangarembga, Bisi Adjapon, and Chido Onumah.
The keynote panel will be delivered by Helon Habila and moderated by Odafe Atogun.

A major highlight of the Festival would be the poetry slam where the winner gets an N200,000 cash Prize.
Information on participation at the Slam can be found HERE.

There will also be a series of workshops on short story writing, poetry writing, and publishing.

Other activities include Panel Discussions, Book Chats, Writing Competitions, Online Festival Book Store, – Online Art Exhibition (with partners), Film screenings, and so on. Some of the topics to be explored in panels include mental health and the arts, writing in African languages, the role of empathy in the relations between Black Americans and Black Africans, representations of black hair in history, sexual harassment in women.

The festival’s previous themes include; “Nigeria to the World” in 2018 and “Arts and Social Consciousness” in 2019. The festival organizers are grateful for the support of partners like the South African based Geko Publishing, the Nigerian PR firm, Phyllion & Partners, Folio Nigeria, and, of course, 9Mobile.

Visit alitfest.com for more information or follow the social media handles on Twitter and on Instagram.
The organizers can be contacted at info@alitfest.com

This statement of purpose virtually ushered over a hundred attendees from the tech & communications sector, reputable speakers, and thought leaders into the groundbreaking tech PR event, PTC 2020 on Friday, 17th of July.

For an average of four hours, a diversity of ideas, enlightening and insightful presentations, and discussion set the pace for the marriage of technology and communication in enabling transformation in Africa.

In his keynote address, first keynote speaker, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, the Group Managing Director of CMC Connect Limited, and President, Africa Public Relations Association (APRA), affirmed that the relevance of technology has called for an enabling environment, to enhance the much-needed development envisaged in the private and public sector of Africa’s economies. In achieving this, he pointed out that all stakeholders must be actively engaged.

In his call for embracing technology transformation in the communication sector, he said, “Embracing technological transformation in our business goes beyond tools creating social media campaigns or keeping our software updated. It is following tech trends or embedding digital solutions in our business affairs. It is about perceiving what the future holds and being positioned digitally to be at the forefront of innovation.”

Second keynote speaker, Adrian Clews, the Chief Executive Officer of Hinckley Group, expressed delight with the organizers of the conference, stating that technological transformation has been rapid on the African continent with various initiatives that have helped in boosting business productivity and human advancement.

“Embracing Technology Transformation in Africa, What Next,” comes to mind, is the economic impact of COVID-19, with macro indicators such as significant contraction in economic growth; higher inflation given value after-tax (VAT); electricity tariff adjustment and currency devaluation,” Clews stated.

During the panel discussion, the six (6) reputable speakers, touched on important points that offered insights into smart industry trends, had conversations around tech impact and growth areas within social & interpersonal relations, education, communication and business, and technology changes to expect from the new era and the immediate future.

One of the speakers during the panel session, Ayeni Adekunle, CEO Black House Media Group, had said, “We need to use technology to transform the media in Nigeria.”

Ayeni also called the older generation to action in his closing statement, “We owe the new generation an obligation to set the Agenda for what the African dream should be.”

Harping on the role communication has to play in cascading the impact story of tech in Africa, Founder, Phyllion & Partners stated, “Technology enthusiasts need to begin to see PR as a vehicle.” She moved on to admonish key decision-makers to embrace future-based thinking and human-centered design in developing technology solutions for Africa.

The highlight of the event was the pitch session that re-affirmed the Phyllion Tech Conference as a rare and commendable conference online. It was indeed carefully thought through to ensure attendees got value for their time and certainly bridged the gap between the start-up and the investment community.

The start-up pitch panel was packed with tech leaders such as Managing Director, HP Central Africa, Ify Afe, CEO Edgebase Technologies, Joel Egbai, US-based Digital Business Transformation Strategist, Ogechi Chidebell, Mo Durosinmi-Etti, Regional Manager at the Bulb Africa, and the second event keynote speaker, Adrian Clews, Managing Director, Hinckley Group.

The knowledgeable panel of pitch judges assessed competing for start-up businesses at the pitch, they gave helpful recommendations in respect to due diligence and the business number projections, and further made mentorship commitments and requests for close working relationships, to help them grow from introductory to market breakthroughs.

The conference came to an end with a closing remark from US-based Digital Business Transformation Strategist, Ogechi Chidebell who said, “We are in the phase they call industrial revolution where it is going to be more imperative for businesses and individuals to transform themselves.”

The organizers of the Phyllion Tech Conference 2020 have said that this is only the beginning as plans to kick off many more brand storytelling for the Nigerian tech ecosystem to help them connect with their target market and investment community, are already being actioned.

While it is true that virtual events are the in thing right now, prioritizing virtual conferences based on the value they add to you, should take precedence while scouting for virtual events.

The Phyllion Technology Conference is one conference you can’t afford to miss out on as a tech enthusiast. It is a 1-day technology panel discussion, aimed at awakening the consciousness of African business owners, tech ecosystem, and government, to the realities of our time, and how stakeholders can leverage technology to survive and thrive.

The goal of this conference is to bring Industry leaders, thought-leaders, key influencers, and major stakeholders together to discuss the future of technology in Africa.

The event boasts high-profile speakers driving technology transformation across the nation and beyond continental shores and dedicated to improving lives, the economy as a whole through innovative tech solutions.

As a tech enthusiast, the following under listed are reasons why you shouldn’t miss out on Phyllion Tech Conference. Spot the benefits as you read on.

• Opportunities to interact, and connect on a more personal and first-contact basis with industry thought leaders and innovators
• Access to first-hand information, data & statistics about the tech industry
• Enjoy interlude as you have never experienced in a virtual formal setting
• Contribute to industry insight and analysis for growth
• Be the judge, viewer or contestant in THE PITCH (read next blog post to know more about THE PITCH)
• Win gifts, free 1-week business communication consultation, free 1-day access to innovative hub/workstation, and more……….

Register HERE to be a part of the conference.

Who are the people that are getting these jobs?

What do they know that I don’t?

Who are the companies or entrepreneurs employing labour?

What do I need to possess to be able to fit into the workplace and excel?

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Phyllion & Partners kicked off a youth enabling platform known as ‘The Coach’ whose maiden edition held in Lagos on August  2019.

The Coach, a youth empowerment platform is a Phyllion & Partners initiative that will bridge existing labour gaps, to create employability and mentorship opportunities for young graduates seeking to become intrapreneurs within an organization and entrepreneurs within an industry. The 1-day workshop addressed the employability and provided mentorship and internship opportunities for young graduates.

Speaking on the need for such youth enabling platforms and what difference this particular platform, The Coach brings to the socio-economic landscape of Nigeria, the initiator, and founder/Lead Strategist, Phyllion & Partners Ltd. Ms. Ophylia Temi Ibekwe stated that as communication professionals we have access to the numbers, the information on the problem and somewhat answers to the problem.

“We know that the curriculum in our schools plays a huge role in shaping and preparing these graduates for job creation or employment market and since nothing has been done to upgrade this curriculum, we decided it was necessary to kick start an initiative that bridges this gap and help fresh graduates learn necessary skills needed to gain employment, grow in it successfully and for some, start up a business with the appropriate principles which set them up for success”.

The Coach 1.0 was a hit as we had the best blends of facilitators that nailed the sessions on mind reform, human resource practicals, and entrepreneurial principles.

Mr. Akinlabi Akinbulumo;

“The only way to mastery is repeat, repeat, repeat. Every time you do not pick the thing you want to be master at, you become the master of the opposite”

Joy Shittu Igbodike;

“Find a market, create value, discover your niche, perfect your art.

Yewande Jinadu;

“The recruiter meets your CV first before they meet you in person, let your CV represent you”

The Coach will be a quarterly event as more facilitators buy into the vision and allow more young graduates to benefit from the training. The future of the country rests on the youth and The Coach has come to stay

If you think you’ve seen it all in The Coach 1.0, wait for it, wait for The Coach for 2.0.

The maiden edition which will include a thorough CV clinic, a mind-shaping training as well as sessions from successful entrepreneurs in both the formal and informal sector will be held in Lagos on the 29^th June 2019.

It is now stale news that over 500,000 students graduate from our tertiary institutions yearly. In spite of this, employers find disappointingly little pickings due to the poor quality of graduates not being proportional to the numbers churned out. This inadequacy leaves many employers frustrated; is the problem that employers have impractical projections or that graduates genuinely lack critical skills? A little of both, we say.

According to a survey published in the International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, employers stated graduate applicants’ ability to think critically, innovate, use technology, solve complex problems, express themselves clearly and work well in a team are critical factors that determine employability. Employability means that graduates have what it takes to be hired, function competently and confidently in graduate-level careers, or to start-up new enterprise (entrepreneurs).

You would agree that it is not everyone who graduates from a university that would work in paid employment, there are other economic opportunities that could be pursued. Some scholars have said that our institutions have failed to empower Nigerian graduates with the relevant skills needed for performance in the workplace and life generally.

Do you know that it has been projected that 33.1 % of the population will be jobless by 2010 if Nigeria were to continue at this rate? Now we could also join the bandwagon, pointing the accusing fingers at our institutions who have repeatedly failed us, but instead, we decided to create a solution—The Coach. This is because we realise that graduates have to learn these skills to make them the change makers they ought to be in our society and our values aren’t about pointing fingers, they are about helping hands.

The coach will train and develop young graduates in the best ways to secure dream jobs and grow in it quickly and also develop young graduates to pursue their passion and become successful job creators. In the end, some graduates will get the opportunity to be mentored by people who are succeeding in their own field as well as internship opportunities. Follow us on social platforms @thecoachnig for more update.

According to Mr Okafor, who spoke at the Pre-fair press briefing held in Lagos recently said the commerce sector is now more technology-driven than ever and the business-enabling platform is set to use the fair to bridge the gap to aid access to required skills and partnerships for SMEs in the country, Africa and the rest of the world.

Chief Executive Officer, Connect Nigeria, Emeka Okafor, explained that amongst other things lacking, access to funding poses a threat to the growth of the SMEs sector as well as operators’ unfamiliarity of socio and technology know-how to grow businesses in today’s tech-driven world.

The fair, which held recently at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos, featured dedicated masterclasses facilitated by pioneers in various industries, with hundreds of businesses exhibiting their products and services. Mentorship opportunities by leaders in various sectors of the economy was also made available that was taken advantage of by small business owners.The 2019 edition of Connect Nigeria’s Business Fair themed GROW GLOBAL, had in attendance, key players in the economic, social and technology sectors and keynote speeches were delivered, as well as an interactive panel session. Some of the key speakers were Co-Founder, So Fresh limited, Mrs Abimbola Balogun; Chief Executive Officer, Farm crowd limited, Mr Onyeka Akumah; Co-Founder, Platform NG, Mrs Uju Obuekwe; Managing Director, SB Telecoms, Mr Afolabi Abiodun, and General Manager, Win-Win Kitchen Limited, Mrs Florence Opawoye among others.

Despite government responsibility in this regard, Connect Nigeria has decided to grab the bull by the horns and chart the course for businesses to excel in Nigeria. We are in awe of the good work that Connect Nigeria does to grow our economy and we are hopeful for other innovations they will unveil later in the year.

According to Temi Ibekwe, founder and Lead Strategist of Phyllion and Partners, “in 2017 when we began despite harsh conditions against existing businesses and more so against new ones, we set out to distinguish ourselves from the hoard of agencies out there and we have managed to carve a reputation especially in the tech space. Despite remarkable growth in such a short space, we are still working to achieve our mission, we will keep innovating and delivering exceptional consultancy service to all of our clients and potential clients”.

Phyllion and Partners has under its belt a number of accounts including and not limited to Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Edgebase Technologies, Connect Nigeria, Amo Farms Sieberer Hatchery Ltd. and newcomer Tech Innovation Park – The Nest. “Phyllion’s ability to always rise up to the occasion and deliver exceptional service is one of the many reasons we have remained signed to them.” Managing Director Edgebase Technologies, Joel Egbai.

Dr Ayoola Oduntan GMD Amo farms Sieberer Hatchery Limited in respect to one of their projects said, “The Noiler movement is getting the attention it deserves thanks to the Phyllion team, they bring professionalism to play which makes the project a success each time letting the world know of the impact we are trying to achieve with The Noiler Initiative”.

According to the Head Design at Phyllion, the agency set out to reduce stereotypes within the industry regarding communications consulting playing a key role in business growth and as described by the agency’s slogan, “redefining innovative communications for effective business marketing”. “We are growing, we are breaking barriers and each teammate understands their contribution to the overall goal” he added.

As a result of our commitment to human development, Phyllion launched the maiden edition of its graduate development platform – The Coach. The Coach is a platform that bridges existing labor gaps, to create employability and mentorship opportunities for people seeking to become intrapreneurs within an organization and entrepreneurs within an industry.

More information can be found at the Phyllion website www.phyllion.com and on social media @phyllionimc and @the_coach1.0.

The two-day event which was a Federal Government Induction Training Programme for Permanent Secretaries, was recently concluded on the 20th and 21st of April 2018, at the Central Bank of Nigeria International Training Center, in Maitama Abuja.

See pictures from the Phyllion-branded event below:

Phyllion and Partners Limited is glad to have partnered with the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation of Nigeria, and HPE Nigeria on a successful event held.