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.
IFeoma Okoruen is a distinguished professional with over 20 years of experience in the human resources (HR) industry. Currently, she serves as the Head of HR and Administration at Mouka Limited, a member of the Dolidol Group. Her HR expertise has been honed and tested in roles across Europe, East, and West Africa.
From May 2014 to December 2017, she was the Group Head of HR at Sahara Group, focusing on oil, gas, and energy.
Prior to that, she led Human & Corporate Resources at UBA Metropolitan Life Insurance Limited from November 2008 to March 2014. She also served as Regional HR Business Partner at Airtel Nigeria from July 2003 to October 2008.
Okoruen has managed people budgets in the millions of US dollars and led HR teams to deliver solutions aligned with business goals.
Her leadership has earned companies under her guidance numerous awards, including the NECA Excellence Awards and CIPM Best HR Practices in Nigeria. She holds an M.Sc. in Human Resources Management from ESUT Business School with Distinction and is a certified Human Resources Business Professional (HRBP), a certification she earned in January 2013.
