Jobs/Appointments
7 Kinds Of People You Find In Every Nigerian Office
By Nkem Ndem
Whether you are a veteran with over 20 years of experience under your belt or a fresh-faced newbie straight out of the university, a Nigerian office can be a war zone for anyone. A complex social environment with a wide variety of people and personalities, you find you have to work with different types of people that you may or may not like to achieve a common goal in a Nigerian office.
Of course, each working environment can differ greatly according to its industry and company culture, however, there are certain types of people you’re destined to meet in every workplace in Nigeria. Jumia Travel, Africa’s No.1 online hotel booking portal, reveals seven of these type of people and how to avoid strangling each one.
The Oppressor
Usually an uptight authority figure in the firm, the oppressor makes things tense for everyone. They are extremely demanding and have very unrealistic expectations. No matter how hard you try to impress them, it seems like you just can’t do enough. While it may seem impossible to change this person’s attitude, however, you always have the power to control yours. Try flipping your perspective and seeing things from your supervisor’s point of view, no matter how hard it seems, and you will find you may be able to better understand how they work and why they expect the things they do. While this may not make them less demanding, it can relieve some of the stress and tension that you feel all the time they are around.
The Veteran
This person has been a working member of staff in the company since the organization’s formative years, yet he does not have a statue or mural in honor of his tenure in the company. He does not trust the new kids on the block and he is not keen about change. Basically, he thrives on routine and so is stuck in his ways and it’s killing your workflow efficiency. Again, he never misses a chance to remind you that he’s been with the company so long.The key to getting the old guy on board is: figure out ways to incorporate his good ideas while cutting the fat. Showing him your ideas will make things easier, but don’t forget to acknowledge his know-how, that way he won’t feel slighted or left out.
The Complainer
The complainer has a comment to make about everything that goes on in the office. He/she complains before completing almost every single task probably because they may fall under one or a few of the following labels: bored, disgruntled, busy, or unhappy with their work. They are not a lot of fun to be around as they drain the energy in the office as they seem to be pessimists. Basically, if complaining were a method that would drive a company’s profits and boost its goodwill among its stakeholders, then they’d be an asset. You really do not want to associate yourself with this kind of person.
The Slacker
It is risky to have this person as a mentor or friend as they are super sly. They like to give the impression that they are the one doing the job, but in reality, they just pass on the tasks to others and take all the glory. They give the image of being actual contributors to the team, but in reality, they do nothing. It is usually a horrible situation when this person is your boss or team head as you end up doing both your work and his/her work. Best thing to do is raise your concerns when you feel you need to, and if they are subordinates, try and mentor them. Also, giving them clear deadline go a long way.
The by-product of nepotism
This is Nigeria and yes! Nepotism is a thing. This kind of worker is the one that got the job because his dad was classmates with the CEO or his mother is in the same church as the owner. He keeps rising in the company, not because he is so skilled or talented, but because of his connection and there’s nothing you can really do about that. It actually pays to be friends with this kind of worker as you never know from where favour may come.
The Gossip
Don’t be deluded, this person is not always a girl. The gossip has the ears of a bat and the mouth of a magpie, and as such, has all the juicy gist in the office. He/she has firsthand information about the boss’s love life, the financial situation of the company and know who is getting sacked or getting a raise. Actually, the Office Gossip is a lot of fun to be around, but you have to be careful what you say to them as you never know how far he/she can take it. Again, if you become too close to them, your image may be tarred, and this can be quite undermining. You can, however, use them if you want to spread any information that may be beneficial to you in the end.
The Kiss-ass
This person is an overachiever and they are always sucking up to those above. Their main aim is to ensure they are in the good books of the relevant authority. They will laugh at the boss’ jokes even when they are not exactly funny and will go out of their way to do things that are not in their job description. Basically, they try to make every other person look bad so they come off as the shining star. This kind of worker is irritating and cannot be trusted as they can easily backstab colleagues.
Nkem Ndem is a PR Associate at Jumia Travel.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
MTN Nigeria now has a new Chief Broadband Officer (CBBO) and he is Mr Egerton Idehen, who joined the organisation in 2002 as a Call Centre Agent.
The leading technology company disclosed in a statement that the appointment of Mr Idehen is effective April 2025.
The appointee holds an MBA from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Business Administration from the University of Leicester, UK. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) in Spain.
His executive training includes advanced programs at UC Berkeley, Wharton School, and Georgetown University, which have equipped him with cutting-edge insights in leadership, finance, and public policy.
Commenting on the development, the chief executive of MTN Nigeria, Mr Karl Toriola, said, “Our vision at MTN is to always prioritize our customers.
“Egerton has been instrumental in our customer-centric approach to service delivery. He is exceptionally qualified for the role as we aim to expand our fibre penetration in Nigeria, ensuring superior connectivity for our customers.
“I am confident that MTN will benefit immensely from his extensive experience, his proven track record in developing successful strategies, and his ability to drive business growth and create value.”
After joining the firm in 2002, Mr Idehen quickly advanced to Call Centre Manager. He has held various pivotal roles, including Customer Relationship Manager for the High Value Segment, Regional Head and Senior Manager of Customer Care, Senior Manager of Consumer Billing, Credit, and Digital Support, and General Manager of Customer Operations.
Through his foresight and expertise in scaling operational efficiency, Mr Idehen expanded MTN’s service agent workforce from 1,000 to over 10,000 in just two years. This expansion ensured seamless support for over 70 million customers through the pioneering Service Everywhere initiative.
During his tenure as High Value Segment Manager, he increased MTN’s premium customer portfolio by 3 per cent, reduced churn by 5 per cent, and met call centre performance targets with 80 per cent service levels and 90 per cent answer rates, all while keeping agent attrition below 4 per cent.
His innovative approach also led to a 50 per cent improvement in service levels and a 15 per cent reduction in operational costs by strategically outsourcing 1,500 call centre seats and 5,000 agents.
Mr Idehen has been a pioneer in digital transformation within the Customer Relations and Experience function, increasing digital customer interactions from under 5 per cent to 64 per cent and launching Africa’s first fully digital telco retail store.
He also spearheaded the design and launch of MTN’s flagship airport lounge, widely regarded as Nigeria’s finest, significantly enhancing the brand experience for high-value customers and reinforcing MTN’s premium positioning. He has received several accolades, including the Best Team Manager Award and recognition for Customer Service Excellence.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The World Bank Group has appointed a Nigerian businessman, Mr Aliko Dangote, to its elite group, the Private Sector Investment Lab, tasking him to drive investment and job creations in emerging economies.
The World Bank announced Mr Dangote’s appointment on Wednesday as part of a broader expansion of its Private Sector Investment Lab, which now enters a new phase aimed at scaling up solutions to attract private capital and create jobs in the developing world.
With this appointment, Mr Dangote has joined a select group of global business leaders, which include the chief executive of Bayer AG, Mr Bill Anderson; the chairman of Bharti Enterprises, Mr Sunil Bharti Mittal; and the chief executive of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Mr Mark Hoplamazian.
In his acceptance of the honour bestowed on him, the African industrialist reaffirmed his commitment to fostering sustainable economic growth through private sector-led investment, noting the transformative potential of such initiatives in developing markets.
“I am both honoured and excited to accept my appointment to the World Bank’s Private Sector Investment Lab, dedicated to advancing investment and employment in emerging economies.
“This opportunity aligns with my long-standing commitment to sustainable development and unlocking the potential of developing economies.
“Drawing inspiration from the remarkable successes of the Asian Tigers, which have demonstrated the power of strategic investment and focused economic policy, I am eager to collaborate with fellow leaders to replicate such outcomes across other regions,” Mr Dangote stated.
The World Bank said the expanded membership brings together business leaders with proven track records in generating employment in developing economies—supporting its sharpened focus on job creation as a central pillar of global development.
“With the expanded membership, we are mainstreaming this work across our operations and tying it directly to the jobs agenda that is driving our strategy.
“This isn’t about altruism—it’s about helping the private sector see a path to investments that will deliver returns, and lift people and economies alike. It’s central to our mandate,” the president of the World Bank Group, Mr Ajay Banga, stated.
Mr Dangote established the largest conglomerate in West Africa, the Dangote Group, with interests spanning cement, fertiliser, salt, sugar, and oil.
The organisation employs over 30,000 people and is the largest taxpayer in Nigeria—contributing more in taxes than all of Nigeria’s banks combined. It is also the country’s largest employer after the government.
The $20 billion Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals, the group’s flagship project, stands as the largest single private investment in Africa.
In addition to his business interests, Mr Dangote leads the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF), the largest private foundation in sub-Saharan Africa, with the largest endowment by a single African donor.
The foundation primarily focuses on child nutrition, while also supporting interventions in health, education, empowerment, and disaster relief.
By Dipo Olowookere
Mr Oluseun Ajayi has retired as the chairman of the board of Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, a statement from the underwriting organisation has revealed.
It was stated that Mr Ajayi exited the board as director from Thursday, April 10, 2025, and has been wished well in his future endeavours.
In the notice signed by the company secretaries, Equity Union Limited, the board expressed its gratitude to him for his contribution to the growth of the organisation.
Under his leadership, Sovereign Trust Insurance consistently experienced steady and remarkable accomplishments. One of his greatest accomplishment as the pioneer chief executive of the organisation was the successful transition of the company from a Limited Liability underwriting firm to a Publicly Quoted Company in November 2006.
The insurance firm disclosed that it would appoint a new chairman for the company in the coming days.
“Sovereign Trust Insurance wishes to inform the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, its shareholders and the investing public that Mr Oluseun Ajayi has retired as a director and chairman of the board of directors of Sovereign Trust Insurance with effect from April 10, 2025.
“The board of the company will appoint a new chairman in the coming days and thereafter notify the investing public.
“The board of Sovereign Trust Insurance thanks Mr Oluseun Ajayi for his immense contribution to the company and wishes him well in his future endeavours.
“The exchange and the investing public will be informed of subsequent developments,” the statement said.
Mr Ajayi graduated from the University of Ibadan with a degree in History and Politics. He is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute of London (ACII) and Nigeria (ACIIN).
He has attended various Management and Leadership Development Programmes at different times in the course of his career including the Management Programme at the London School of Insurance.
Mr Ajayi is also an alumnus of the Lagos Business School having completed the Chief Executive Programme. He has also attended leadership programmes at the IESE Business School of the University of Navarra, Spain, the University of Nottingham Business School and the London Business School.
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