General
AXA Mansard Sweeps Prestigious Awards at 2024 CIPM HR Oscars
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The 2024 Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) HR Oscars held in Abuja recently saw AXA Mansard as one of the biggest winners.
The leading insurance firm was recognised for Best HR Practice (Insurance Category), Employee Engagement, and Internal Communications Initiative.
Also, the member of the AXA Group was the second runner-up overall in Nigeria for the 2024 HR Best Practice Award.
According to the Chief Client Officer of AXA Mansard, Ms Rashidat Adebisi, the awards underscore AXA Mansard’s unwavering commitment to fostering an engaging, stimulating, and progressive workplace for its people.
She remarked further that the company believes that living out its customer-first value should begin with a positive employee experience. AXA’s HR policies and practices are thus deliberately tailored to be people-oriented.
“We are convinced that when we care for our employees, they will care for our customers, and everybody wins. The customers win, the employees are fulfilled, the society is better, and the marketplace prospers”, she said.
“So, to be awarded three awards by a prestigious human capital institution such as CIPM is something we take seriously. It is a confirmation that our people philosophy is in tune with the realities of today’s workforce requirements.
“I congratulate our HR team for consistently embodying our Employee Value Proposition. I understand the dedication and precision involved in achieving each of these awards, so winning three in a single year is a clear testament to the great work we are doing for our employees.
“This achievement not only solidifies our position as an industry leader but also reaffirms our commitment to being a people-oriented, role-model organization,” she added.
Also, the General Counsel and Human Resources Director of AXA Mansard, Ms Omowunmi Mabel Adewusi, noted that the awards are another testament to the organization’s HR best practices and their real impact on the employee’s total well-being.
“These awards underscore that our Dare and Care philosophy is a driving force within our organisation. Being recognized as the company with the Best HR Practice within the insurance sector—and across multiple industries in Nigeria—is a significant accomplishment.
“This recognition reflects the bold, forward-thinking policies and initiatives we have put in place to ensure our employees are engaged, productive, and find purpose in their work each day.
“For example, our AXA We Care program offers employees benefits such as menstrual leave, paternity leave, psychological assistance, caregiver leave, maternity leave, teleconsultation services, free medical check-ups, minimum financial coverage in the case of cancer, and many more.
“We understand, for example, that women’s menstrual cycle is not what we are culturally tuned to discussing, especially with managers of the opposite sex. But it’s a key part of the women’s wellbeing, so what we have done is to ensure that women can take leave days if they need to during their monthly cycle.”
The CIPM promotes excellence in people management through value creation, optimisation of human potential, and standardization, as well as regulation of Human Resource Management.
The HR Oscars aims to identify best practices and recognize achievements. Its assessment for recognition is based on the demonstrated proof of positive business impact based on the change, initiative, program, or process improvement described in the submissions.
The AXA We Care programme is deployed under four main policy pillars;
Caregiver policy: This policy provides employees caring for immediate family members who require elder care or care due to a serious health condition and disability with up to five days of fully paid leave.
Domestic and sexual violence policy: AXA stands against domestic and sexual violence. For any employee impacted by such a situation, AXA commits to providing access to psychological support, specialist support services, flexible working arrangements, and five days of fully paid leave.
Parental policy: Besides the existing fully paid maternity leave for female employees, the We Care program provides an extended fully paid paternity leave for male employees for up to 10 working days. Additional leave and flexible working arrangements will be offered to support employees receiving and recovering from in-vitro fertilization or in the case of pregnancy loss.
Healthy You program: Launched in 2020, this health and wellbeing program provides AXA employees with benefits such as psychological assistance, teleconsultation services, medical check-ups, minimum financial coverage for cancer, and more. The program will expand further to include a supportive working environment for employees experiencing menstrual health conditions, menopause, or andropause.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The South African Consulate General in Lagos, in partnership with Brand South Africa and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), is hosting the 4th edition of the South Africa Focus Week in Lagos, Nigeria, from April 22 – 26, 2026.
The annual platform continues to grow as a strategic initiative aimed at fostering social cohesion between South Africans and Nigerians while positioning South Africa as a preferred destination for business, tourism, and education. Since its inception in 2023, South Africa Focus Week has attracted over 1,500 participants, bringing together stakeholders from across sectors, including trade and investment, arts and culture, tourism, aviation, and the culinary industry.
The 2026 edition holds particular significance as it coincides with the 30th anniversary of South Africa’s democratic Constitution, enacted in 1996, as well as 32 years of unbroken diplomatic relations between South Africa and Nigeria, established in February 1994. These milestones underscore the enduring partnership between the two nations, rooted in shared history and strengthened through formal agreements and ongoing collaboration.
The 2025 economic relationship between South Africa and Nigeria reflects a strategically significant, multi-dimensional partnership anchored in trade, energy security, investment flows, and strong institutional cooperation. While bilateral trade remains structurally imbalanced – with South Africa exporting US$468.48 million and importing $1.69 billion, resulting in a $1.22 billion deficit – this dynamic is largely driven by South Africa’s reliance on Nigerian crude oil, positioning the relationship as one of strategic interdependence rather than imbalance alone.
This partnership is further elevated by the relative economic weight of both countries. According to IMF projections, South Africa’s economy is valued at approximately $443.6 billion, while Nigeria’s stands at around $334.3 billion in nominal terms for 2026. As two of the largest economies on the continent, their bilateral engagement constitutes a central axis of African economic activity, with disproportionate influence on the success of continental integration efforts.
Beyond trade, the relationship is reinforced by deep two-way investment linkages. South African firms -including MTN Group, Shoprite, and Standard Bank – maintain a strong presence in Nigeria, while Nigerian companies such as Access Bank and Paystack have established a growing footprint in South Africa. Although investment flows are asymmetrical and some Nigerian firms have faced operational challenges, these exchanges reflect an emerging bi-directional economic corridor that extends beyond goods trade into services, finance, and digital innovation.
Aligned with Brand South Africa’s mandate to build the country’s global reputation and competitiveness, the week-long programme will convene leaders from government, business, civil society, academia, and the media. Discussions will focus on leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a tool for market access and global positioning, with Nigeria serving as a key focal point.
The South Africa Focus Week has features a series of high-level engagements and cultural activities designed to deepen economic ties and promote collaboration: South Africa–Nigeria Infrastructure Investment Conference (April 22, 2026) which was held under the theme South Africa–Nigeria Partnership: Unlocking Infrastructure Opportunities,” the conference will bring together key stakeholders in infrastructure development to explore collaborative projects in road, rail, and transportation systems.
The forum also examined the role of Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) and facilitated discussions on project financing and implementation with institutions such as the DBSA and Nigeria’s Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).
This was followed by the 2nd Economic Diplomacy Roundtable (Thursday, April 23, 2026), which was hosted in partnership with MTN Nigeria under the theme Role of Technology in Infrastructure Development, the roundtable will convene senior government officials, private sector leaders, and industry experts to identify investment opportunities and strengthen strategic partnerships.
Friday, April 24, was for Arts and Culture Experience, which is a dedicated cultural day will showcase Lagos’ creative spaces and features a panel discussion on South Africa’s arts, film, music, and culture. The programme includes a South African film screening, engagements with filmmakers, and a networking reception aimed at fostering collaboration between the creative industries of both countries.
The event continues on Thursday, April 25, with Freedom Day Celebration and Closing Ceremony. This commemorative event will celebrate 30 years of South Africa’s Constitution, 32 years of freedom and democracy, and the enduring diplomatic relations between South Africa and Nigeria. The ceremony will also provide an opportunity to reflect on outcomes from the week and outline future areas of cooperation.
The celebration forms part of Brand South Africa’s Global South Africans Programme, which recognises and connects South Africans in the diaspora as ambassadors of the nation’s values and identity.
The week climaxes with the 4th edition of the South Africa Golf Tournament at Ikoyi Golf Club on Saturday, April 26, 2026, which will be done in partnership with Crossflex International.
According to a statement, the event aims to strengthen people-to-people relations through sports diplomacy, bringing together South African and Nigerian golfers in a spirit of camaraderie and collaboration.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The former chairman of the defunct Skye Bank Plc, Mr Tunde Ayeni, has been apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Spokesperson of the anti-money laundering agency, Mr Dele Oyewale, confirmed the arrest of the businessman on Friday but declined to provide further details, according to TheCable.
Mr Ayeni was accused of diverting the N36.5 billion and $30 million loans from Polaris Bank Limited to companies with which he has links.
He was alleged to have obtained the credit facilities for marine security, electricity distribution, and real estate projects, but moved them to telecom investments tied to NITEL/MTEL assets via a NATCOM account.
After the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) revoked the operating licence of Skye Bank in 2018, it nationalised it to Polaris Bank.
The EFCC has been looking into the alleged diversion of funds by Mr Ayeni, resulting in his arrest in Abuja on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
He is being grilled over the matter and would be arraigned in court once the investigation is concluded.
This is not the first time Mr Ayeni has been nabbed and probed by the EFCC, as this happened a few months after his bank lost its licence.
The then acting spokesman for the EFCC, Mr Tony Orilade, said Mr Ayeni was quizzed by detectives over issues related to fraud and embezzlement allegedly committed by him when he was Chairman of the bank a few years ago.
By Adedapo Adesanya
“We are fully committed to working with the new Commissioner of Police and giving all necessary support towards the successful discharge of his responsibilities.”
-
Feature/OPED6 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism10 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz3 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking8 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy3 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking3 years agoSort Codes of UBA Branches in Nigeria
-
Banking3 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Sports3 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn