For strong commitment to manpower development through enhanced budget and staff training, underwriting firm, Linkage Assurance plc has won the 2014 recognition of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), an annual programme to deepen human resource development among organisations in the country.
The award, handed over by the Lekki area office of the training fund, said Linkage Assurance emerged the “Best Contributing Employer to Human Resources Development” within Lekki area office for 2014. The position had earlier been occupied by Chevron in 2012 and HFP Engineering in 2013.
Ayoade Igbeyi, deputy director/area manager, Lekki area office of ITF, presenting the award during its flagship programme “Lunch & Learn” held at Orchid Hotels, Lekki, said “the objective of the award is to encourage and recognise commitment to human capital development in the country.”
The impact is increased productivity, conducieve working environment and better relationship between employers and employees, Igbeyi said.
He commended Linkage Assurance for blazing the trail, stating the insurance company had shown it was prepared to rule in the future because the success or failure of an organisation was determined by the quality of its manpower.
Foluso Adedeji, group head, marketing of Linkage Assurance, who received the award on behalf of the company’s managing director/CEO, GUS Wiggle, said it was a happy moment for the company having realised its vision a few years ago to increase training budget.
Adedeji said the decision to increase staff training not only impacted on the organisation’s productivity, but had given the staff better motivation and opportunity to redefine their career pact for personal and organisation growth. Our employee retention is high and we believe it is a commitment we would continue to uphold, he said.
Established in 1971, the ITF in its four decades of its existence, has not only raised training consciousness in the economy, but has also helped in generating a corps of skilled indigenous manpower that has been manning and managing various sectors of the national economy.
Over the years, pursuant to its statutory responsibility, the ITF has expanded its structures, developed training programmes, reviewed its strategies, operations and services in order to meet the expanding, and changing demands for skilled manpower in the economy.
The main thrust of ITF programmes and services is to stimulate human performance, improve productivity, and induce value-added production in industry and commerce. Through its SIWES and Vocational and Apprentice Training Programmes, the Fund also builds capacity for graduates and youth self-employment, in the context of Small Scale Industrialisation, in the economy.
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