HuCaPAN Holds 10th AGM as Ogunlowo Emerges President

By Our Reporter

The Human Capital Providers Association of Nigeria, HuCaPAN, on Thursday held her 10th Annual General Meeting in Lagos and elected Dr. Femi Ogunlowo, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Strategic Outsourcing Limited as the President.

The immediate past President, Mr. Remi Adegboyega (FCIPM) in his address said that the organization has bestrode ten challenging years saying that with the mortality rates of businesses and organisations in Nigeria, the organizations has reason to appreciate the support and commitment of all our members especially those that attended the meeting physically and virtually.

He noted that year 2020 was quite challenging not just for the Association but globally occasioned by the outbreak of the devastating global pandemic, Corona Virus (COVID-19), which led to changes in businesses and way of life and considerably slowed down things globally.

He lamented the impact of the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic on the Association. He said “Some of our member-companies experienced arbitrary outright contract cancellation; suspension or downward contract review. The inability of clients to fulfill obligations; and reduction of manpower among others was responsible.”

Adegboyega said that the industry was threatened last year by bills to outlaw casualisation confused with labour service contract and outsourcing, in Nigeria but that HuCaPAN took steps through consultations and media campaigns to enlighten the proponents and the public in order to clear the confusion.

He stressed that HuCaPAN is against casualisation and has been the vanguard in promoting decent work stressing that the association would continue to be guided by best practices, relevant laws and policies.

“As a responsible Association, we have consistently maintained that we would continue to be true to our objective which is to operate and promote standards/ethical practices in recruitment, deployment and management of outsourced personnel among Service Providers in Nigeria and abroad. We have consistently campaigned against casualisation as we believe that it is against the principle of decent work. We would continue to be guided by our Constitution, the Code of Conduct for Private Employment Agencies in Nigeria which was developed with the technical support from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) and the HuCaPAN. To further decent work agenda in Nigeria, we shall be true to our mantra – “anywhere a Nigerian is found working; he/she must have a decent work.

The ratification of the International Labour Convention (ILO) C181 – Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181) and Convention 143 – Migrant Workers will no doubt improve our industry. HuCaPAN over the years has been at the forefront of the campaign. This is coming at a right time as the Nigeria Code of Conduct for Private Employment Agencies is also currently undergoing review. I must appreciate our partner, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) for funding the review process and providing the much needed expertise. These documents hopefully would help to check the activities of quacks in the industry and also help to galvanise larger membership base for HuCaPAN so that all Private Employment Agencies can come together in upholding ethical employment standards.”

Reporting on stewardship of office, Adegboyega said that the relationship between the Association and the regulatory body, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and other stakeholders has been strengthened. He said such relationship has led to the government ratification of the International Labour Convention (ILO) C181 – Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181) and Convention 143 – Migrant Workers; development and ratification of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for international recruitment and simplification of recruiters licence and its renewal.

He called on other licenced Private Employment agencies in the country to join HuCaPAN so as to promote ethical standards in the industry and weed out quacks operating within the system.

In his acceptance speech, the new President, Dr. Femi Ogunlowo appreciated members for their trust and confidence in him and other Executive Committee members. He appreciated his predecessors, Mr. A.R Emedo, Mr. Neye Enemigin and Mr. Remi Adegboyega and members of the Executive Committee that served with them for their pragmatic and purposeful leadership which has established HucaPAN’s relevance among critical stakeholders.

He said, “While our strategic priority will remain positioning HuCaPAN as the voice of the industry by creating advantages and opportunities for member companies in a way that would protect our business, we will devote the next two years to building on our strengths and taking on new directions through training, resource mobilization, strengthening our relationship with the government and relevant stakeholders, effective implementation of relevant ratified ILO Conventions, policies and laws governing our industry. We will work assiduously to maintain fair labour practice that upholds international labour standards and ethical practices.”

Other members of the new Executive Committee include Amb. Chief Nzeribe Okegbue, Ph.D, 1st Vice President; Otunba Tunji Balogun, 2nd Vice President; and Mr. Tunde Johnson, 3rd Vice President. Others are Mrs Christianah Ubuane, Treasurer; Mr. Steve Onyemah, Protem Publicity Secretary and the immediate past President as Ex-Officio.

Earlier, the Director General, Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, Dr. Timothy Olawale and the Director, International Labour Organisation Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone and Liaison Office ECOWAS, Ms. Vanessa Lerato Phala commended HuCaPAN and pledged their support to the association and decent work in Nigeria.

Human Capital Providers Association of Nigeria is the umbrella organization of registered and licenced recruiters in Nigeria also referred to as Private Employment Agencies (PEAs). The objectives of the association are to develop and promote International Labour Organisation, ILO, standards and ethical practices in recruitment, deployment and management of outsourced personnel in Nigeria.