General News
How to Deal with Fatigue in Remote Teams
By Andrew Bourne, Region Manager, Africa, Zoho Corporation
While the pandemic paved the way for even the most staunch opponents of remote work to change their perspective, fatigue is starting to set in for some of the teams, especially for those who have been isolated for the best part of the year now. However, as restrictions relax, some companies are choosing to reopen their office with a limited workforce.
While remote work undoubtedly has certain advantages, some teams may be experiencing a morale drop after months of being stuck at home without a chance to socialize. There are also concerns about adverse mental health impact. In order to boost your team’s morale, here are a few suggestions you can try:
1. Organise virtual team building
You can organise virtual meet-ups and brainstorming sessions. An additional option is to coordinate virtual one-on-ones between staff members, giving them topics to talk about. An in-depth dive into a subject with another person can do wonders for sparking ideas and creativity.
You can also add value by bringing in subject matter experts to present specific topics. Even if it’s not directly related to what you do, the sessions can help employees gain a fresh perspective, inspire different ways of thinking and rekindle interest in ongoing projects.
2. Give them a time out
Without the usual corporate trips or weekend outings, every day probably feels like a weekday for your employees. Consider giving your teams a few days off to bring back the leisurely weekend feel. Not only does this allow them some time to put their feet up and relax, the gesture also gives your workers the confidence that you care about their well-being and that their jobs aren’t in financial jeopardy.
3. Introduce a mental health wellness programme
If you haven’t already, bringing a mental health professional onboard can be extremely helpful for employees who find it especially hard to deal with social isolation and loneliness. Hire an in-house counsellor or offer subsidised clinical screening to those who need help. You can also host seminars to increase awareness and initiate internal discussions to normalise conversations on mental health.
4. Get people moving
Exercise can be a great way to reignite people’s mental freshness. After months at home, they may have slipped into moving less than they did previously. You could organise a virtual group class that everyone can get involved in or make a personal trainer available to advise them on exercises and workouts.
You can also inspire them to eat healthy meals by having a chef give healthy food and snack advice, perhaps even including a virtual cook-along class.
5. Use the right tools
It might sound overly simple, but if you’re using the wrong tools, then remote and online collaboration can be an exercise in extreme frustration. Make sure you’re giving your teams the support they need by using a technology provider that offers all the tools they need, built using the same technology stack, so they interoperate seamlessly. For example, an office suite should enable productivity as well as unified communication and collaboration between teams in your office. It should also centralise your team’s workspace, simplify file storage, and streamline team communication.
With the right tools at hand, it also matters how the leadership leverages them. If you have a social intranet platform, use them extensively to connect with your employees. At Zoho, for example, the CEO makes monthly posts about business outlook to talk about how we are faring as a company and what to expect in the coming months. He also hosts open house sessions, where people are free to bring in their concerns and ask questions. Regularly communicating with your employees, and being open about the situation will allow everyone to feel invested and secure.
Decisions to stay fully remote or to go back to the on-site office are not exclusive of each other anymore. Instead, you may find yourself opting for a hybrid solution where people spend some time in the office and the rest at home. Either way, the online collaboration will play an increasingly important role in the workplace. Applied correctly, the lessons learned now will, therefore, serve you well in the long-term.
The Nigerian government has launched the Virtual Privacy Academy, a new digital training platform designed to deepen data protection and privacy policies in the private and public sectors.
Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, unveiled the initiative during the 8th annual conference of the Network of African Data Protection Authorities, which began yesterday in Abuja.
The three-day conference, titled “Balancing Innovation in Africa: Data Protection and Privacy in Emerging Technologies,” drew attendees from over 30 African countries, as well as Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the United States.
Dr. Tijani emphasised that the academy is part of Nigeria’s strategy to capitalise on the benefits of the digital economy by providing actors with the tools they need to navigate hazardous data governance landscape.
According to Tijani, this project would provide Nigerians with the opportunity to gain practical skills in data protection.
Dr. Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, highlighted Nigeria’s recent data governance milestones during his address.
He stated that the Commission had completed over 5,000 compliance assessments, opened 223 investigations, and assisted 12 organisations with rehabilitation.
Dr. Olatunji urged African countries who have yet to pass data protection laws to do so, emphasizing that “strong data protection frameworks are not barriers to innovation, but enablers of a resilient and inclusive digital economy.”
Treepz, Africa’s leading corporate mobility startup, has announced an exclusive partnership with Miva Open University, Nigeria’s premier open university. Under this agreement, Treepz becomes Miva’s official transportation provider, delivering services across key cities, including Lagos, Abuja, Uyo, Port Harcourt, and Jos.
L-R: Sani Chanchangi, Business Development Manager, Treepz; Godwin Okpe, Community & Engagement Manager, Miva Open University; Florence Sulyman-Boboye, Global Vice President of Business Development and People, Treepz; Oluwole Adeniji, Manager, Corporate Services, Miva Open University
As Miva Open University expands its academic and administrative presence across Nigeria, Treepz will provide on-demand access to premium vehicles for staff transportation, guest logistics, special events, and official university functions. With a fleet that includes SUVS, Coaster buses, and luxury vehicles, Treepz ensures that all mobility needs are handled with reliability and professionalism.
“This partnership is a strategic move that helps us stay focused on what we do best—delivering accessible and flexible education,” said Oluwole Adeniji, Admin Operations Manager at Miva University. “With Treepz handling our transportation across the country, we can scale confidently, knowing our staff, guests, and stakeholders are moving safely and efficiently.”
On Treepz’s end, Johnny Enagwolor, Co-Founder and President at Treepz, noted that the partnership comes at a pivotal moment, allowing Miva, a forward-thinking institution, to prioritise its core mission of delivering quality education, while Treepz efficiently manages a wide range of its inter-city mobility needs.
“By providing a tailored transport service, Treepz aims to alleviate the logistical burdens of institutions, ensuring Miva University operate at its best.
“At Treepz, we understand the importance of reliable and efficient transport services in driving organisational success. Our goal is to provide Miva with the most comfortable, safe, and convenient transportation solutions possible,” Johnny added. We are committed to providing high-quality, safe, and reliable transportation solutions that support Miva’s mission and contribute to its ongoing success.
Furthermore, we recall that Treepz commemorated its fifth anniversary on September 16th, 2024. Over the past five years, the startup has made notable progress in addressing the continent’s transportation challenges through innovative, tailored solutions.
Treepz has also established itself as a key player in the African mobility industry, with more than 6 million customers served, consistently expanding its services and strategic partnerships to meet the evolving needs of corporate clients.
Recent partnerships with industry leaders such as Parallex Bank and KingMakers (owners of BetKing) have enabled Treepz to provide efficient transportation solutions to complete millions of employee commutes with their shared transportation service.
These accomplishments highlight Treepz’s growing influence and its commitment to revolutionizing corporate mobility and enhancing transportation experiences across the continent.
For more information about Treepz and its corporate travel services, kindly visit www.treepz.com
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said that the Afreximbank would invest $19 billion to fund the African Energy Bank.
He said the $19 billion would go a long way toward tackling and overcoming energy poverty, driving economic growth, and improving the lives of millions of people.
The minister disclosed this while speaking at the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Pavilion, hosted by the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), at the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, U.S with the theme “Africa’s Energy Renaissance: Leveraging Innovation and Natural Gas for Sustainable Development.”
He said that by pooling resources, African countries can invest in large-scale energy projects.
Also, the minister stressed the need for Africa to develop cohesive policies tailored to its unique circumstances, warning that fragmented approaches would be ineffective in addressing the escalating energy deficit.
“This conference is not a jamboree. It is a platform for Nigeria, and by extension, Africa — to showcase its vast potential,” Lokpobiri said.
He underscored the importance of regional collaboration, highlighting the Africa Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) as a strategic entity established to devise shared solutions for the continent’s energy challenges.
According to him, the prevailing global discourse on energy transition is largely influenced by geopolitical considerations.
In response to this challenge, he announced that APPO is in the process of establishing the African Energy Bank to bridge funding gaps and ultimately free the continent from energy poverty.
During a meeting with his Ghanaian counterpart, Lokpobiri advised Ghana to draw lessons from Nigeria’s past experiences in the energy sector, particularly in avoiding early missteps.
In his address, Ghana’s Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Mr John Abdullahi, acknowledged Nigeria’s leading role in the region.
He stated that while Ghana is a relatively new player in the oil and gas sector, it is eager to learn from Nigeria’s experiences and reforms, especially in the areas of local content development and climate policy.
“We will continue to consult Nigeria as we build a successful oil and gas industry. The collaboration between both countries remains strong. For his part, PETAN Chairman Wole Ogunsanya emphasised the significance of Nigeria’s presence at OTC.
He said: “This year’s event, under the Nigerian Pavilion, is set to highlight Africa’s growing role in the global energy sector.
“OTC 2025 promises to bring together top-tier industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders at the world’s largest energy event.”
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