General
Experts Advocate Women Empowerment in Leadership
Some experts representing both international and local firms have joined forces to lend a voice to the empowerment of women and gender equality in leadership, especially as regards the workplace.
Chairman of Inclusion@Lloyd’s, who equally doubles as Global Chair of Aon Benfield Reinsurance, Dominic Christian; Executive Director, Navigate Consulting Africa Ltd., Egbe Oyegun-Adeoye; Managing Director, CMC Connect, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya and member Board of Directors, Global Reporting Initiative, GRI, Bekeme Masade-Olowola, were the panelists at the ‘Dive In Festival for Diversity & Inclusion In Insurance’, with the theme: ‘Empowering Women in Leadership’, which held recently in Lagos.
The event, which was a gathering of key players in the Insurance sector, basically talked to the issue of inclusion, especially of the women folk; stressing that by enabling and empowering women to lead in the workplace, an atmosphere of belonging with outstanding results is created.
According to Dominic Christian, Global Chairman, Aon, five years ago, when the first Dive In festival was launched in London, they wondered back then whether it would be popular enough to warrant an annual event.
“We had no idea how much support and enthusiasm was out there around the insurance industry for an initiative like this whose focus is on levelling the playing field for talent and supporting people to reach their true potential at work.
“Inclusion@lloyds created The Dive In Festival as an opportunity to enable open conversations around topics such as gender equality, social mobility and cultural differences, physical and mental health and well-being.
“We know that in order to unlock the business power of diversity, we need to build workplace cultures where people feel they can be themselves. We need to practice inclusive leadership – role modelling the behaviour we want to see in the business, respecting differences and creating space for everyone based on talent and equality.
“Our festival message, then as now, was that diversity and inclusion are good for business. Our industry must be one step ahead of the complex global challenges that are affecting business and the public sector – from globalisation, to climate change and cyber crime- and to do that, we need the brightest minds and the boldest innovation. That doesn’t come from groups of people who all think the same way. We need different perspectives, life experiences and cultures in our teams to see opportunities from different angles,” he said.
He added that since its launch in 2015, the festival message has spread across four continents. Christian also alluded to the fact that women represented 50 per cent of the global population, hence the importance of inclusion.
“Gender is one of the most apparent signs of diversity. Walk into any workplace and it is immediately apparent that there is a problem if the room is almost exclusively male”, he said.
Quoting from ‘The Business case for Change’, a global research published by the International Labour Organisation earlier this year which cited Nigerian companies among its respondents in Africa, he said: ‘Our findings indicate that enterprises with equal employment opportunity policies and gender-inclusive cultures are over 60 per cent more likely to have improved profits and productivity, and they are almost 60 per cent more likely to experience enhanced reputation, greater ease in attracting and retaining talent, and greater creativity and innovation. The business case for gender diversity, particularly for increasing the proportion of women in the management and board pipelines, is compelling.’
On their part, Bekeme Masade-Olowola and Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, were united in stressing the need for attitudinal change and a change of the mindset and thinking of the African woman, especially as it relates to cultural and traditional beliefs.
They were both of the opinion that the African cultural system of/and beliefs had done a lot in stifling the growth mindset of the African woman, and this, they say, had affected her performance in the work place. They also alluded to religious beliefs which had great influence on most African societies, as being a factor which had limited the Nigerian cum African woman’s ability to express herself in critical situations, rather seeing herself as being subject to the menfolk.
They unanimously posited a changed mindset and reorientation in order to get out of the mental rot affecting women.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A strategic joint venture agreement has been signed between the Lagos Free Zone (LFZ) and CEVA Logistics. The deal will advance integrated logistics solutions in Nigeria and West Africa.
Under the agreement, a warehouse will be put in place within Lagos Free Zone, home to Nigeria’s Lekki Deep Sea Port. This facility positions importers to seamlessly access West African markets, particularly multinational manufacturers serving the region.
Importers leveraging the free zone warehouse facilities at Lekki Port will benefit from duty-free exports to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) markets, creating a streamlined and cost-effective logistics solution.
Because the logistics journey to this region requires a deep understanding of trade lanes, local port operations, and customs procedures, CEVA Logistics stands the chance to use its experience to deliver quality service to customers.
The JV will enable businesses to focus on their core operations while ensuring a seamless journey for goods from global origins to West African destinations.
According to the Vice President of Air and Ocean Product at CEVA IMEA, Jean-Baptiste Rambaud, the partnership will mark a new phase of enhanced logistics solutions, leading to a seamless journey for global trade in West Africa, a region with its dynamic and youthful population that represents a key growth market for global manufacturers, especially in the FMCG sector.
“Our targeted investments in Nigeria reflect our commitment to providing uninterrupted logistics services to our global clients exporting to West Africa, including ECOWAS.
“This free zone warehouse is the final piece in creating a seamless logistics journey for goods and products from around the world to West Africa,” Rambaud stated.
Also commenting, the chief executive of LFZ, Ms Adesuwa Ladoja, said, “By integrating Lekki Port, reliable industrial infrastructure, and efficient logistics solutions, we are building a logistics hub for West Africa. Collaborating with CEVA, a global leader in logistics, strengthens our ability to deliver on this vision.”
It was learned that the JV has been approved by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) of Nigeria, with CEVA Logistics to hold a majority stake in the newly established entity.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed the powers of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to receive complaints, assess matters brought before it, and take appropriate lawful steps, including investigation where necessary.
In a judgment delivered on Monday by Justice James Omotosho, he dismissed the suit filed by Air Peace Limited challenging the commission’s authority to investigate consumer complaints and issue summons in the exercise of its statutory mandate.
Justice Omotosho affirmed the organisation’s powers under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018 (FCCPA) to receive complaints, assess matters brought before it, and take appropriate lawful steps, including investigation where necessary.
Welcoming the decision, the chief executive of the FCCPC, Mr Tunji Bello, said the judgment provided useful clarity on the importance of regulatory oversight in protecting consumers and promoting fair market practices.
He noted that the matter arose from complaints relating to unrefunded ticket fares, cancelled flights, and other service concerns affecting passengers.
Mr Bello reiterated that consumers, who pay for services, were entitled to fair treatment, transparency, and redress in accordance with applicable law.
He further described investigation as an administrative process intended to establish facts and determine whether further action is warranted. It does not amount to a finding of liability or wrongdoing.
According to him, the commission is committed to engaging all market participants in a fair, professional, and transparent manner, while ensuring due process at every stage of its proceedings.
He encouraged businesses operating in Nigeria to cooperate with lawful regulatory processes and to maintain effective complaint resolution systems that address consumer issues promptly and fairly.
The FCCPC will continue to act within its statutory mandate to protect consumers, promote competitive markets, and strengthen confidence in essential service sectors, including aviation.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is Nigeria’s primary competition and consumer protection authority established under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has filed a 13-count charge before the Federal High Court, Abuja, against alleged plotters of a coup against President Bola Tinubu.
Among the suspects are a retired major general, a retired naval captain, a serving police inspector, and three others.
Recall that in January, the Nigerian armed forces confirmed that some of its personnel actually attempted to overthrow the government of President Tinubu in October 2025.
This followed speculations that the October 1 parade last year was abruptly cancelled due to an alleged attempt to remove Mr Tinubu from office by some members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), with 16 persons arrested over the issue.
At the time, the Defence Headquarters said investigations had “identified a number of officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government” and would be “formally arraigned before an appropriate military judicial panel to face trial.”
“The comprehensive investigation process, conducted in accordance with established military procedures, has carefully examined all circumstances surrounding the conduct of the affected personnel. The findings have identified a number of officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government, which is inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards required of members of the AFN.
“Accordingly, those with cases to answer will be formally arraigned before an appropriate military judicial panel to face trial in accordance with the Armed Forces Act and other applicable service regulations. This ensures accountability while upholding the principles of fairness and due process.
“The AFN reiterates that measures being taken are purely disciplinary and part of ongoing institutional mechanisms to preserve order, discipline and operational effectiveness within the ranks. The Armed Forces remain resolute in maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, loyalty and respect for constitutional authority,” the statement read in parts.
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