‘Human-centered Strategy Key to Africa’s Competitive Advantage’

The Talent Leader for Sub-Saharan Africa at Schneider Electric, Yewande Ayowole-Oso, has said that organisations can thrive by placing people at the heart of strategy, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa’s emerging markets, where economic uncertainty is compounded by social and structural challenges.

Disclosing this recently in Lagos, Ayowole-Oso said that, though the market is challenging and all businesses are being forced to reassess how they operate, what defines a strong organisation is its ability to evolve—continuously resetting, adapting, and learning—while ensuring that people remain the anchor through every change.

According to her, being a high-performing employer is not synonymous with unbroken success or constant growth. In truth, it is the companies that confront adversity transparently, care for their people through transition, and keep evolving their people strategies that set the benchmark for excellence.

“Recently, Schneider Electric achieved Top Employer status, signalling that its people strategy is not reactive—it’s resilient. While many organisations struggle to maintain stability, Schneider Electric continues to evolve, adapt, and lead with purpose,” she said.

Also, Ayowole-Oso noted that being a high-performing employer is not synonymous with unbroken success or constant growth. She said, “In truth, it is the companies that confront adversity transparently, care for their people through transition, and keep evolving their people strategies that set the benchmark for excellence.”

She explained that, in Nigeria, where youth unemployment and leadership pipeline gaps remain pressing concerns, HR leaders must adopt adaptive workforce models that position skills development, inclusion, and well-being as core drivers of organisational strategy rather than peripheral support functions.