Diverse and Inclusive: Balance for Better Workplaces

I had the opportunity to share the 7th HR Bootcamp Conference stage with Kola Olugbodi, Grace Omo-Lamai, and Olubusola Abidakun; Adora Ikwuemesi was the moderator. 

The topic for our panel discussion was on Diverse and Inclusive: Balance for Better Workplaces with emphasis on practical things that we have each done to create this balance. 

I had to first of all teach the audience how to pronounce "Letshego" - It's le-tsê-ho, and not Let-She-Go.

 Below is an excerpt of my presentation:

1. As the Head of Human Capital at Letshego Nigeria (dba Letshego MFB), we supported Theseabilities Foundation to set up an Enterprise Development Scheme (EDS) which helps to equip persons living with disabilities (PLWD) with skills that enable them to be economically active and independent, thereby restoring their dignity. At the end of the skills acquisition program, we extend credit facilities (working capital) to those who are interested. To date, all the persons who have been trained and certified that accessed our facility are performing in terms of repayment and their business is growing. For more detail on the scheme, please reach out to Theseabilities Foundation.

2. We also identify those who would like a formal job and provide them with opportunity to work and earn a decent wage. We currently have two persons living with disabilities (one with loss of limb, while the other has cerebral palsy). As we identify more, we would continue to create opportunities until we reach the 5% of our total workforce as required by law.

3. We are scheduled to carry out a disabilities audit in the 1st quarter of 2020 in order to certify our organisation as a disability-inclusive employer.

4. Apart from persons living with visible disability we also have in our employment persons living with temporary ability. The scheduled disabilities audit will enable us catalogue the different categories of persons with disabilities in our organisation.

5. As an inclusive finance company and employer, our mission would only be said to be fulfilled when we include not only the excluded but also persons living with disabilities.

Thank you, Kendor Consulting, for the opportunity to share what we have been doing which led to someone in the disabilities community nominating me for an award.

Please visit http://www.dialawards.africa/vote to VOTE for me as the "Disability Champion in the Private Sector.” 

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