- Mrs. Janet I.K. Jolaoso *
Recognizing the importance of training and development in the African region, International Federation of Training and Development Organisations (IFTDO) Board under the Chairmanship of Dr. Ahmed Al Banna has decided to launch IFTDO-Africa as an affiliated body in Nigeria to support IFTDO programmes, projects and activities in the continent.
In furtherance to ensuring the presence and impact of the global body in the continent of Africa considering its valued contributions and size, a Trust has been established and registered in Nigeria.
In a release by the Organization’s General Secretary, Dr. Uddesh Kohli, he states that African Board of Trustees has been constituted with the following pioneering Members to steer its affairs in the region:
Mrs. Janet Jolaoso, Nigeria, as Chairman
Dr. Helmi Sallam, Egypt as Treasurer, representing North Africa
Dr, Gemechu Waktola, from Ethiopia, representing East Africa
Mr. Meshack Tafa, from Botswana, representing Southern Africa,
Mrs. Belinda Odeh, Nigeria, as Secretary
Mr. Tayo Rotimi, also Nigeria as Adviser
Mr. Tayo Rotimi a past President of the Nigerian Institute of Training and Development, (NITAD) has been a member of the international Board and has served in various committees of the Board over time before his current appointment while Mrs. Janet Jolaoso also joined the Board since 2019 both representing Nigeria on the global body.
It will be recalled that Mrs. Janet Jolaoso, the pioneer African’s Chairman of IFTDO is the immediate past President of the Nigerian Institute of Training and Development, (NITAD) whose administration remarkably repositioned the over three decades Learning Institute through her seven points agenda and increased the institute’s profile and acceptance index among the stakeholders in the Training and Development practice in Nigeria.
Mrs. Jolaoso is currently the Chairperson of the Committee for Women Empowerment for the continents of Africa and Asia before her current appointment. Agribusiness empowerment projects for women and young female adults which the Committee facilitates under her leadership has recorded monumental successes in Lagos, Oyo and Ogun States of Nigeria in partnership with corporate companies and government agencies.
Mrs. Belinda Odeh, the pioneer Secretary of the Board, an educational leader, is also serving as the Secretary of the Committee for Women Empowerment. She once served on the Governing Council of NITAD.
IFTDO was founded in Geneva, Switzerland in 1972 in order to develop and maintain a worldwide network committed to the identification, development and transfer of knowledge, skills and technology to enhance personal growth, human performance, productivity and sustainable development.
IFTDO is the most multinational, multicultural Training and Development organization in the world with a truly diverse Board of Directors leading the organization. Their members form a highly diverse network of human resource management and development organizations globally, linking HR professionals in HR societies, corporations, universities, consultancies, government organizations and enterprises. IFTDO currently represents more than 500,000 professionals in over 30 countries.
