Nigeria boasts a population of approximately 200 million with about 70% of the population under 30, and 42% under the age of 15.
Despite this, the correlation between investment in human capital and the country’s economic growth and development has not yielded substantial results.
This is partly due to unemployment, poverty, and insecurity. Of course, this social and economic situation makes migration attractive to young people.
However, a recent report by PricewaterhouseCoopers highlights Nigeria’s significant Brain Capital advantage, with a large youthful population averaging 19 years old.
This demographic stands in contrast to the ageing populations observed in countries such as Germany, Japan, Italy, and the United States, where it’s projected that the worldwide working-age population will experience a 10% decline by 2060.
Nigeria has already demonstrated prowess across various service sectors, including entertainment and sports, showcasing talent capable of competing and excelling in the global market.
At the forefront of this dynamic industry are core professionals adept at identifying and nurturing talent, building experience and boosting portfolios to compete not only locally but on the international job market.
In the tradition of Nairametrics, we spotlight some influential female human capital professionals within various industries based on their experience and companies in their career portfolios.
Esther Akinnukawe is the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) of MTN Nigeria Communications PLC, a leading telecommunications company in Nigeria. With a distinguished career spanning over three decades, Esther has worked across major sectors including Consulting Services, Education, Banking, and Telecommunications.
As CHRO, she has earned MTN Nigeria multiple accolades, including the Employer of the Year Award and the NECA Employers’ Excellence Award. Esther’s contributions to gender equality in the workplace have also been recognized, earning her the Outstanding Gender Leader Award.
Notably, Esther was named one of 31 female change-makers in Africa by Rising Women Africa/Global Group Media and was honoured as HR Person of the Year 2023 by the HR People Magazine Awards. In addition to her role at MTN, she serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director on the board of Edfin Microfinance Bank.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Obafemi Awolowo University, an Executive MBA from IESE Business School, and an Advanced Management Programme from Harvard Business School. Esther is a chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (MCIPM) and a professional member of the Institute of Directors (IOD) and Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
Note: The individuals featured in this compilation have been carefully selected by a distinguished panel of editors, experts, and analysts at Nairametrics.
It is important to note that none of the individuals listed have solicited their inclusion. While this list aims to be comprehensive, it is by no means exhaustive; numerous other contributors have played significant roles in advancing the Human capital and talent management sector in Nigeria.
This compilation is exclusive to Nairametrics and may be updated periodically to reflect changes and advancements in the field. Feedback will be appreciated.
