- 9,696 man-hours invested in employees learning, development in 2023
As part of efforts to ensure optimal performance of workers, the APM Terminals Apapa has disclosed that it prepares a yearly calendar for training and professional development, stating that a total of 9,696 man-hours was invested in employees’ learning and development in 2023.
Speaking on Monday in Lagos, Senior People Business Partner, Omolara Olatunbosun said the learning platforms cut across no less than 20 different pieces of training across various functions, some running concurrently.
“Our employees are one of our core values; ensuring that we have the right person with the right skills for each job is integral to the success of our operations, so we understand the importance of investing in Learning and Development to enhance their skills, efficiency, productivity and overall wellbeing.
“On average, there is an investment of 24.1 man-hours in the training of an employee annually.”
Adding that the terminal was committed to cultivating a culture that fosters continuous learning and development, she described it as an ongoing and transformative journey, as there is a training session/workshop almost on a weekly basis at APM Terminals Apapa.
She said employees had access to a diverse range of learning resources ranging from various training programs which may be internal or external, formal or informal, to a vast global e-learning resource within the Maersk group.
According to her, the terminal’s trainings comprise soft skills training, leadership abilities to skills development to help employees build technical skills, industry knowledge, regulatory compliance, safety and many more.
Olatunbosun also mentioned that for new entrants, training usually commences immediately as a part of their onboarding journey.
“At APM Terminals Apapa, we are continuously upskilling and reskilling our employees to deliver services that fulfil the global APM Terminals goal of being the world’s best terminal company for all stakeholders. We are equally equipping them to ensure they remain relevant and capable to compete with their colleagues in other terminals around the world,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Terminal Manager, Steen Knudsen opined that ensuring employees remain updated with the relevant skills and latest development in their various fields is a huge task.
“Our operations run at all hours daily. Managing a training calendar annually also means having to constantly pull employees out from their daily tasks so they can be available for any scheduled training,” he said.
He added that the goal of investing heavily in the development of employees was to ensure the terminal can continue to deliver value to its customers and the host community it lives in.
“Our external stakeholders are not left out; staff of the Nigeria Ports Authority have participated in some of these training programs, focusing on giving good foundational knowledge of container terminal operations. Learning and Development in Apapa is a mix of virtual and onsite training, some of which involve collaboration with colleagues in other APM Terminals around the world. We will continue to invest in developing and upskilling our organisation to be ready for tomorrow’s challenges,” Knudsen said.
