Business
HOW NEW FIRS TRAINING STRATEGY WILL SAVE BILLIONS IN FEW YEARS
By Kelechi Okoronkwo
Executive Chairman, FIRS, Muhammad Nami
For big and critical organisations such the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) which has a workforce of over 11,000 staff, the issue of human capacity development is a big deal. With the preponderance of technology in all facets of human endeavour, the world keeps evolving by the day; and the workforce of such organisations like the FIRS needs to evolve at a higher speed per day in order to stay ahead of evolving trends.
This is the rationale for the frequent subject-matter training which the FIRS schedules for all staff. To sharpen the skills of staff, the Management expects that all staff of the Service, including contract drivers, should be trained on their job functions at least once in two years- that is, as a worst-case scenario. In practice, staff could get training on their job functions at an average rate of three times in one year. To achieve the above schedule, it becomes inevitable that the Service has to spend a lot of money on training. Considering the high cost of training using consultants in Nigeria at the moment, the cost of achieving high quality training for all of FIRS workforce over a two-year period could run into billions of Naira; and since such trainings are a necessity, the Service would have no option other than to pay for its staff development.
Group Lead of FIRS General Services Group (GSG), Ahmed M. Muhammed, supervises Career and Skills Development Department.
Recently, in line with its policy of cost saving and obtaining value for money, the Service introduced a new training strategy—Train the Trainer Strategy. The Management called for applications from suitably qualified staff to serve as Subject Matter Experts and from the numerous applications, selected outstanding staff who have expert knowledge of the subject matter, deploying them to handle various programs based on their expertise. As a result, FIRS does not need to utilise training consultants for all capacity building programs; the Service needs only to outsource experts to handle trainings where internal capacity is not available.
The Service has deployed the above strategy for about six months now and it is working seamlessly so far. During the strategy assessment engagement recently, some of the trainees as well as the facilitators praised FIRS Management for thinking out of the box. A class of staff who were undergoing a training on Fundamentals of Taxation at the FIRS training school in Durumi, Area 1, Abuja, gave a standing ovation to one of their colleagues after handling the training.
Reacting to the development, one of the trainees said that he was happy that the FIRS Management is now using FIRS staff to train FIRS staff. He said: “This is a great initiative by the Management. You can see that everyone is happy. You are motivated because the person standing before you is also your colleague. You are freer to ask them questions, the class becomes more relaxed and interactive. You are also motivated to learn the subject matter so that one day, you can stand before other colleagues and lecture them. This is commendable and we want the Management to keep it up. Apart from making the class more relaxed, it also saves costs. Using this strategy, the Management does not need to always use training consultants. We can save the money and use it for other pressing needs of the Service. It also helps both the trainers and the trainees; the trainers would internalise the subject matter more if they keep teaching other staff; because you would not want to come here and mess up yourself, you would try to read the subject matter very well. By doing so, the trainers are equipping themselves more. For the trainees, you are challenged and motivated to do better”.
Responding to accolades, one of the trainers said “We will report back to the Management that you said that this strategy is good. We also believe that it is good. Thank you very much”, the trainer
Director of FIRS Career and Skills Development Department, Mrs. Angel Fadahunsi
The Director of Career and Skills Development Department of the FIRS, Mrs. Angel Fadahunsi, said that the Service is convinced that using competent staff to train other staff would be more productive.
“Yes, that is the way the Service is going. Why should we be paying consultants to come and train our staff when we have the capacity to train ourselves? There is no reason for that. This is one of my Department’s 2022 Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and we are working hard to achieve it. By next year, more training programs which were outsourced will be handled by staff. We are not outsourcing them any longer. You can see that both the trainers and the trainees are happy; and at the same time, the Management is saving money. We are using our competent staff to train other staff. This is the way the Service is going and it’s just one of many innovations that the ECFIRS has encouraged us to adopt; watch out for more” she said.
Kelechi Okoronkwo is a Technical Staff to FIRS Executive Chairman.
Business
Union Bank’s Union Cares Initiative Celebrates Academic Excellence at Pacelli School for the Visually Impaired Graduation
Union Bank of Nigeria proudly participated in the graduation ceremony of the Pacelli School for the Visually and Partially Sighted on 23 July 2025, honouring the resilience and academic achievements of visually impaired students.
The event, held on the school premises, highlighted the importance of inclusivity and determination in education.
As a 108-year-old institution committed to social responsibility, Union Bank’s involvement reflects its enduring support for Persons With Disabilities (PWD) and its dedication to fostering equitable access to education.
The Bank’s Chief Brand and Marketing Officer, Olufunmilola Aluko, expressed her admiration for the graduating students:
“Union Bank proudly stands as a champion of inclusiveness and equitable representation. Through our UnionCares corporate social responsibility initiative, we are committed to supporting vulnerable and underrepresented communities.
We celebrate the incredible achievements of these students and reaffirm our dedication to empowering them to reach their full potential.”
UnionCares is Union Bank’s CSR Arm focused on creating sustainable social impact in key areas, including:
• Support for Vulnerable Groups: Empowering persons with disabilities and other marginalised communities through inclusive initiatives.
• Education and Skill Development: Facilitating access to education and practical skills that promote self-reliance and opportunity.
• Community Well-Being: Enhancing the overall quality of life of communities through health, education, and social welfare projects.
Union Bank remains honoured to collaborate with institutions dedicated to uplifting less-recognised members of society. The Bank remains dedicated to championing initiatives that inspire positive change, and foster a more inclusive, enlightened community across Nigeria.
Kevin Ugwuoke, Executive Director and Chief Risk Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, has formally assumed office as President of the Chartered Risk Management Institute of Nigeria (CRMI).
His leadership promises a reform-focused era anchored on policy advocacy, ethical standards, and digital innovation to deepen risk governance across sectors in the country.
Speaking during the presidential handover ceremony in Lagos over the weekend, Ugwuoke — who also doubles as acting President of the Federation of African Risk Management Associations (FARMA) — described his election as “a call to action.”
He pledged to reposition CRMI as a thought leader and institutional partner in shaping the future of risk management in Nigeria’s national development.
“Our mission is more than just certification; it’s about strengthening the culture of risk governance across sectors. We will collaborate with regulators, raise awareness, and provide practical tools to help organizations embed risk discipline at all levels.”
Ugwuoke outlined a five-pronged strategy to guide his administration: strengthening professional education and certification; deepening policy and regulatory engagement; accelerating digital transformation; integrating ESG and climate risk into corporate strategies; and mentoring the next generation of risk practitioners.
He explained that CRMI will align its initiatives with key policy institutions — including the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, the National Assembly, and sub-national governments — to help embed robust risk frameworks into economic development plans.
“We must integrate risk thinking into how we plan, govern, and invest. We will advocate for more inclusive regulations to empower small and medium enterprises, improve macroeconomic stability, and foster institutional resilience.”
Ugwuoke also announced plans to revise the Institute’s curriculum, introduce specialized certifications to reflect emerging risks, and implement a new National Risk Observatory to provide real-time risk data to both the public and private sectors.
“Digital innovation will be central to how CRMI operates going forward. We are automating our backend, delivering more virtual training, and employing technology to scale our impact across the country and beyond.”
In his remarks, the outgoing President of CRMI, Ezekiel Oseni, challenged the new leadership to consolidate on the achievements made under his tenure — from securing chartered status and strengthening partnerships to gaining greater international recognition — and take the Institute to the next level.
Also speaking on the occasion, Chukwuma Nweke, deputy managing director of United Bank for Africa (UBA), delivering a goodwill message on behalf of Group Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba, described Ugwuoke as a worthy successor. “As Professor Oseni hands over the baton to Kevin Ugwuoke — a well-respected leader in the risk management ecosystem — we are assured CRMI is poised for greater achievements under his watch.”
Nweke stressed that growing economic uncertainties — from inflation and exchange rate volatility to growing debt — underscore the need for a more strategic view of risk. “Risk must be recognized not as a compliance obligation or a cost center but as a key enabler of resiliency and growth. Institutions that embed risk into their strategies will absorb shocks more effectively, unlock value, and inspire investor confidence.”
As part of the day’s ceremonies, 11 distinguished practitioners were conferred with the Fellow of Chartered Risk Manager (FCRMI) award, while 21 new members were formally inducted as Chartered Risk Managers (CRM).
Furthermore, a new Governing Council was inaugurated to oversee the affairs of the Institute for the 2025–2027 term, marking a decisive step forward in institutional renewal and policy direction.
L-R: Registrar/Chief Executive, Chartered Risk Management Institute of Nigeria (CRMI), Victor Olannye; Divisional Head, Risk Management Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Grace Abioye; Immediate Past President, CRMI, Ezekiel Oseni; President, CRMI and Executive Director/Chief Risk Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Kevin Ugwuoke; Director, Enterprise Risk Management, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Amal Haruna; and Rep. Keynote speaker, Deputy Group Management Director, United Bank of Africa (UBA), Chukwuma Nweke; at the CRMI Conferment Handover/Sent-Forth ceremony, held in Lagos recently.
One of Africa’s leading financial institutions, Zenith Bank has reaffirmed its dedication to employee welfare by announcing the promotion of over 4,000 staff members and implementing salary increases ranging from 20% to 30% across various employee grades.
This bold initiative, under the leadership of Managing Director/CEO Dame Adaora Umeoji, its aimed at boosting staff morale and productivity.
With over 8,000 employees, this significant investment in human capital reflects Zenith Bank’s belief that its workforce is its most valuable asset. The salary adjustments, effective January 1, 2025, aim to reward performance, alleviate financial pressures, and ensure enhanced customer service delivery. Promotions for top management are also expected as part of the bank’s ongoing commitment to excellence and growth.
Dr. Umeoji emphasized the importance of maintaining a motivated workforce, stating that the bank’s dedication to its employees will translate into superior service experiences for customers. She highlighted the organization’s commitment to setting industry benchmarks through innovative solutions and exceptional service delivery.
Zenith Bank’s continued leadership in the Nigerian financial sector is underscored by numerous awards, including Best Bank in Nigeria 2024 by Global Finance and recognition as the Biggest Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital in 2024 by The Banker. These accolades complement its reputation for innovation, sustainability, and corporate governance.
By prioritizing employee welfare during challenging times, Zenith Bank not only strengthens its internal operations but also sets a standard for other financial institutions in the region, reinforcing its position as a leader in Africa’s banking landscape.
As a major player in Nigeria’s financial landscape, under its managing director/chief executive officer, Adaora Umeoji, the bank has embraced a holistic approach to growth that integrates environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles with its core business objectives.
At the heart of Zenith Bank’s strategy is a focus on buoying economic inclusion, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and driving technological innovation to enhance customer experiences. The bank’s proactive investments in renewable energy, sports, digital transformation and impactful community initiatives exemplify its dedication to creating long-term value for its stakeholders while addressing global sustainability challenges.
Zenith Bank’s continued success is driven by a combination of strong financial performance and an unwavering commitment to its stakeholders.
Zenith Bank’s growth trajectory is underpinned by a robust expansion strategy. With operations in several countries, including the UK, UAE, China, and most recently, France, the bank continues to expand its geographical footprint.
As usual, the bank’s efforts in 2024 did not unnoticed as the lender clinched several local and international awards in recognition of its outstanding performance.
In 2024, the bank won the Best Bank in Nigeria at the annual Global Finance award in Washington, DC, NY.
The bank also emerged the Biggest Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital, 2024 by The Banker; Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria 2024 – World Finance; Best Corporate Governance, Nigeria 2024 – World Finance; Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria 2024 – International Banker; Bank of the Year, 2024 – Business Day; Retail Bank of the Year, 2024 – Business Day; Bank of the Year 2024- The Banker.
It also clinched the Most Responsible Organization in Africa 2024 – SERAS; Best in Gender Equality & Women Empowerment 2024 – SERAS and Best in Transparency & Reporting 2024 – SERAS
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