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.
Lola Esan is a distinguished Organization Design specialist with over 20 years of professional background spanning media, advocacy, strategic human resources management, and management consulting across Mexico, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Nigeria. She holds a Master’s degree in International Management from Queen Mary, University of London, and a bachelor’s degree in communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan. She is also certified with MCIPM, PRINCE2, and GPHR.
Lola’s career began at the World Health Organization in Switzerland as a Media Officer. She then moved to Phillips Consulting Limited, where she worked as a Senior Consultant in the Human Capital Management Unit. At Cornerstone Insurance Plc, she served as Head of Human Capital, where she was responsible for the development and execution of HR strategies.
Her tenure at PwC Nigeria as a Senior Manager in the People and Organisation Practice involved leading projects on HR strategy, organization design, and change management.
Currently, she is a Partner and the People Consulting Leader at Ernst & Young (EY) West Africa, where she has been instrumental in driving workforce advisory services and leading significant HR transformation projects.
