The beating heart, our people, our strength – Deji Ajibola, Human Resources Director of Guinness Nigeria Plc

By Mofeoluwa Awe

What is it about your people that makes GN a beacon of excellence and a catalyst for change?

You cannot talk about our people without first talking about our culture. Over the years we have built a culture that embraces the whole employee, that caters to every aspect of the individual.

If you were to describe the Guinness Nigeria’s’ culture, it is one that is inclusive. It encourages collaboration and innovation. It promotes open doors across all levels, allowing people to be their best selves. Because of our culture, we find that the Guinness Nigeria employee is resilient. Operating in such an unpredictable environment, they are courageous, bold, energetic, and fun-loving. We work hard, we play hard, and at the same time, we share a strong sense of mission and purpose in pursuing our mission.

The Guinness Nigeria employee is deeply connected to the Organisation and its direction. As a result, we are all committed to putting our very best into the work we do, creating a profound impact in the communities in which we operate across the Country.

So, if you think about it, many of the initiatives we carry out nationwide, whether it’s giving back to the community, championing inclusion and diversity, or driving business excellence, have all been achieved with the active support and impact of our employees.

Could you share how your comprehensive programmes, ranging from exclusive training initiatives, like your female GMT training, to your progressive leave policies such as six months of maternity leave, paternity leave, and miscarriage leave empower your employees and strengthen your community?

At Guinness Nigeria, we are leaders in the welfare of the total individual – not just professionally, but also aspects of their personal life, which they would not necessarily talk about or bring into the workplace, and that is one of the reasons we have such generous family leave policies.

We believe family is as important to the employee as work itself, and unless the family part is taken care of, productivity will be impacted. That is one of the reasons we have some of the policies that we have, including in taboo areas like menopause, adoption, prostate care, miscarriage, etc.

These are important parts of people’s lives, and we must address them; making provisions for employees’ well-being in those areas as much as possible.

Talent development is also very important to us. We are very intentional about developing talent, not just for us, but even for the broader community we operate in. That is the reason why we have had a Graduate Trainee Programme running for a few years. Up until two

years ago, we had an all-female graduate school because we believed we needed to do something to increase the percentage of females in STEM, and we intend to continue such initiatives.

We also run an Undergraduate Scholarship Scheme, which has been in place for over seven years. It prioritises gender balance with a 55% female participation quota, and we’ve intentionally included people living with disabilities, ensuring representation and support across all spectrums of ability.

Our broader commitment to economic empowerment, community development, and diversity is also brought to life through Plan W—our flagship initiative focused on empowering women. Through Plan W, we equip women with the skills and resources needed to build sustainable businesses, strengthen local economies, and promote inclusion, including deliberate support for people living with disabilities (PLWDs). So far, 1,400 women have been reached across Oyo, Lagos, Edo, Imo, Osun, Kaduna, Ogun, and Cross River States.

Whether it’s through workplace policies, education, or entrepreneurship, we are focused on building a more inclusive, empowered, and supportive future for all.