News
Jobberman Launches Alliance for Better Work Initiative
Jobberman, the single largest job placement website in sub-Saharan Africa, has announced its Alliance for Better Work initiative, as part of its longstanding partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.
The employer-centred initiative is geared to radically bolster recruitment in Nigeria, with a focus on driving female hires and providing integrated end-to-end support on the easy to use online jobs platform.
Large corporations to SMEs in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Kaduna will be able to capitalise on access to over 182,000 pre-vetted jobseekers between the age of 18-35, segmented by industry and qualification level and with a core focus on the agricultural, creative and digital sectors in Nigeria.
The Alliance for Better Work has been designed to improve job retention, workplace productivity, business development and, crucially, bridge the gap on gender unemployment which according to recent data is 35.2% compared to 31.8% for men.
To-date, employers have faced challenges such as cost for training new employees, a flood of unfiltered applications and wide skills gap.
The campaign will run in parallel to Jobberman’s successful soft skills training program, which has already equipped 190,628 young people between the age of 18-35 for the workplace, as well as placing more than 82,600 in dignified employment.
The latest drive will see the pioneering platform draw from its leading expertise in the market to tackle both strands of recruitment with equal volition and on course to reach its target of securing employment for 3 million young people by 2025.
The Alliance will establish a commitment between Jobberman and employers in the agriculture, creative, digital, finance, healthcare, retail/FMCG, advertising and education sectors to #hirebetter and move beyond the inertia of costly recruitment processes.
According to Jobberman’s data insights, companies can spend an average of 4-6 weeks on their hiring process and cost an estimated 20-25% of the annual gross salary of a candidate to recruit.
The Alliance for Better Work is an exclusive recruitment club that gives employers access to the largest pool of trained quality candidates in the country, innovative end-to-end recruitment and post-hiring support, brand amplification, and exclusive rates, all tailored to companies specific needs.
Speaking on the initiative, Rolake Rosiji, CEO of Jobberman Nigeria said, “The Alliance for Better Work is ultimately about unlocking the competitive advantage of Nigerian companies, often lost in long and poor cycles of recruitment.
“By joining forces with Nigeria’s most astute companies we aim to set a standard of progressive recruitment practices that will allow businesses to flourish. Plus, this opens up the opportunity to accelerate our mandate with Young Africa works in placing trained young people in dignified work. Employees are a company’s greatest asset and Jobberman has the experience, the tools, platform and the resources to make this a reality for employers.”
Chidinma Lawanson, Country Head Nigeria, Mastercard Foundation, added, “The Mastercard Foundations Young Africa strategy aims to give 10 million youth, and women access to dignified and fulfilling work in Nigeria – 70% of which must be women. The Foundations’ partnership with Jobberman is one of the many ways that we intend to achieve this.
The launch of the Alliance for Better Work Campaign is intentional in filling the gap in the recruitment process, particularly as it pertains to gender unemployment. We look forward to seeing its impact.”
With over a decade in the recruitment business, Jobberman has used its platform to develop job seeker skill sets, identify gaps in the labour market and streamlined the hiring processes for employers.
The partnership with the Mastercard Foundation is steering transformative change in the issues surrounding unemployment in Nigeria. The partnership aims to train 5 million job seekers and place 3 million in dignified employment over the next five years.
News
NFIU Seeks Advanced Technology to Combat Financial Crimes in Nigeria
The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) is ramping up efforts to combat financial crimes through advanced technology and enhanced collaboration as part of its drive to remove Nigeria from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.
Speaking at a high-level conference organized in partnership with the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) Risk Intelligence, in Lagos on Thursday, NFIU’s General Counsel, Felix Obiamalu, revealed that the agency had established a special unit, “Emerging Technologies and Innovations sector” dedicated to integrating cutting-edge tools into its operations.
Obiamalu explained that the NFIU was automating processes and developing software to monitor and track financial crimes. “Criminals continuously exploit gaps in the system, but we are upgrading our capabilities and working with global software developers to stay ahead,” he said.
“The LSEG Risk Intelligence also have sophisticated technology tools that we can also leverage on to combat these financial crimes. That is the essence of such collaborations as the fight cannot be won in isolation,” he added, highlighting the role of partnerships in addressing the nation’s anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) challenges.
Since being greylisted in February 2023 due to deficiencies identified during FATF’s mutual evaluation process, Obiamalu stressed that relevant stakeholders were working relentlessly.
“This conference is part of efforts to improve interagency cooperation, enhance information sharing, and ultimately build a sustainable AML/CFT framework,” he said, noting that the focus is not only on exiting the grey list but also on creating a system that can effectively address future challenges.
Che Sidanius, the Global Head of Financial Crime at the London Stock Exchange Group, highlighted the broader economic implications of Nigeria’s greylisting. “Being greylisted has a significant impact on foreign direct investment and how Nigeria is perceived internationally.
However, the commitment from both the government and private sector to address these challenges is clear, and that is the first and most critical step,” Sidanius remarked. He emphasized the need for capacity building, robust data utilization, and actionable strategies to strengthen existing frameworks.
The Chief Executive Officer of the NFIU, Hafsat Bakari, earlier in her address stressed that a coordinated approach is vital for success. “No single organization, public or private, can tackle the myriad financial crime challenges we face in isolation. Only through structured cooperation can we succeed,” she said.
Bakari pointed to the Bank Verification Number (BVN) initiative, partnership between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and commercial banks among other measures as an effective example of PPPs bolstering Nigeria’s AML/CFT framework.
“We, at the NFIU, recognize that gatekeepers in the financial and designated non-financial sectors are often the first to become aware of emerging trends and typologies. They have a wealth of intelligence and information that can contribute to more effective law enforcement responses across a variety of predicate crimes.
“It is therefore critical that we ensure a properly joined up approach, and this is reflected as a priority in our National AML/CFT/CPF Strategy. Therefore, our gathering today could not have come at a better time,” she added.
News
LASAA Enhances Operations with New Porta Cabin Offices in Lagos
Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) has launched new porta cabin offices located in Badagry Local Government Secretariat, Ikorodu Local Government Secretariat, Lagos Television premises and LASAA warehouse.
This initiative aims to bring the Agency closer to its many clients and improve the regulation of outdoor advertising landscape, ultimately optimizing revenue generation for the State.
Speaking at the launching of the new offices, the Managing Director/CEO of the Agency, Prince Fatiu Akiolu said they are extensions of the Agency’s branches across the State.
According to him, “The porta cabins launched are not just physical structures, they represent our ongoing commitment to enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations.”
The MD explained that, with the rapid growth of our city and the increase in the formation of businesses, Lagos has become a dynamic hub for innovation and creativity, and with that comes the need for sophisticated solutions to manage our operations better to meet the rise in the display of business signs in the State.
In his words, “Strategically situating the offices is important to the Lagos State Government for revenue optimization as it will impact positively on the development of the State, as we demonstrate our support for Mr Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwoolu towards actualizing a much greater Lagos.”
He further explained that, “It has become necessary for the Agency to provide these decent portal cabins for the convenience of our staff members and by extension, for our revered walk-in clients who visit to register their business signs and make relevant enquiries.”
He averred that, “These portal cabins symbolize a major step forward in our operations at LASAA. The provisions reflect our dedication to embracing innovation and modernization to improve our service delivery. With these new facilities, we are not just upgrading our operational capabilities; we are also ensuring that our processes are more efficient, accessible, and transparent. Each facility is fitted with air-conditioners, computers, tables, chairs, bathrooms, and kitchens,” Prince Fatiu stated.
Also speaking, the Deputy General Manager, Operations and Innovations of LASAA, Mr Adegbolahan Dixon made it known that it has become imperative to open new porta cabin offices to complement the existing ones as some local governments in the State do not have spaces where they can construct new office buildings.
According to him, “We decided to approach some sister agencies with spaces within their premises to set up the porta cabin offices to reach more clients.”
He said that, “The overriding idea is to be close to our existing and potential customers instead of them going to our head office to transact business. With these offices that are close to them, they can interface with our members of staff who will guide them on how to register and obtain permits for their business signs.”
Dixon also revealed that the Agency has opened a good number of the offices this year which are effectively serving a purpose and that more will be opened for operational expansion next year.
The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) was established by the Lagos State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency Law, 2006 and the Amendment, thereto is responsible for regulating and controlling outdoor advertising and signage displays in Lagos State.
In its commitment to excellence, the Agency plays a crucial role in shaping the visual landscape of Lagos through effective regulation and innovative solutions.
News
Electricity Subsidy Soars to ₦2.4 Trillion Despite Tariff Reforms
Federal Government’s electricity subsidy has surged by 269%, rising from ₦650 billion in 2023 to an estimated ₦2.4 trillion in 2024.
This increase comes despite the implementation of the Band A tariff service category in April, which was expected to reduce subsidy obligations by ₦1.14 trillion.
Dr Yusuf Ali, Commissioner for Planning, Research, and Strategy at the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), revealed this during a presentation at PwC’s Annual Power and Utilities Roundtable in Lagos on Friday.
Speaking on “Reigniting Hope in Nigeria’s Electric Power Sector,” Dr Ali noted that macroeconomic shocks, particularly foreign exchange instability, have driven cost-reflective tariffs up by 118% between 2023 and 2024, contributing to the steep rise in subsidies.
“So right now, the best estimate that we have for 2024 is that the cumulative subsidy for the year will be ₦2.4 trillion,” Dr. Ali said.
He explained that while the government aimed to significantly reduce subsidies through tariff increases in April 2024, the challenging macroeconomic environment has hindered tariff payments.
“Without the tariff reforms implemented between 2020 and 2023, annual subsidies would have risen significantly, especially amidst the macroeconomic shocks of the past 20 months,” he added.
Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, represented by his Chief Technical Assistant, Adedayo Olowoniyi, highlighted the government’s efforts to address the challenges in the power sector. He emphasized that the current administration, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, recognizes energy as critical to economic growth and job creation.
“To ensure the sustainability of the energy sector, the Federal Government of Nigeria has implemented a multi-pronged approach spanning across legislation with the enactment of the Electricity Act 2023, policy framework with the development of an Integrated National Electricity Policy, and infrastructure development programmes to expedite expansion,” he said.
The minister outlined additional strategies, including leveraging bilateral funding, commercializing the sector to enhance viability, and collaborating with development partners to address bottlenecks in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry value chain.
“Our successes have not been without challenges. We have recorded frequent grid disturbances and dips in supply levels due to ageing infrastructure, resource limitations, capacity inadequacies, and consistent vandalism of transmission networks,” he noted.
To address these issues, the government has implemented short-term measures, such as enhancing maintenance plans for critical substations, replacing outdated equipment, and conducting data-driven analysis to prevent disruptions.
“For long-term strategies, we are finalizing plans for a super grid project to establish a more robust and resilient grid system,” the minister added. He concluded by emphasizing the importance of innovation, collaboration, and bold ideas to restore confidence in the sector.
“Today’s theme reminds us that hope is not a passive sentiment but an active commitment. We must continue to innovate and implement bold ideas to deliver an energy future where every Nigerian has access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable power.”
- E-Financial2 days ago
UBA Group Sets Foot in France with Full Banking Services
- News3 days ago
TCN Reveals N8.8 Billion Expenditure on Restoring Destroyed Transmission Towers
- Telecom3 days ago
Google, Meta Criticize Australia’s Rush to Pass Social Media Ban for Under-16s
- Broadcasting2 days ago
TETFund Suspends Foreign Scholarships Due to Rising Costs and Abscondment
- News2 days ago
Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Unveils Anti-scam Measures to Protect Mutual Fund Holders
- E-Financial2 days ago
MoneyMaster Promotes Financial Inclusion, Offers more Bonus to Customers
- E-Financial3 days ago
PenCom, PenOp to Integrate Uncovered Workers into Micro Pension Plan
- Uncategorized2 days ago
NAICOM Signs Agreement with NDPC on Data Protection in Insurance Sector