IWFI, LBS awards 5 companies for best family-responsibility practices

The Institute for Work and Family Integration (IWFI) and Lagos Business school have awarded five Nigerian companies for integrating strong family-responsibility practices into their operations, following an assessment of workplace policies across multiple sectors.

The companies were awarded at the Corporate Family Responsibility Index awards, which is IWFIs maiden edition that marks the first formal attempt to benchmark family-friendly workplace policies across sectors in Nigeria. The participating organisations were assessed on the extent to which work–family integration is reflected in their policies, practices and ethical standards to identify and assess how Nigerian organisations support employees in balancing work and family life.

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The organisations were examined on how they support employees through measures such as flexible working arrangements, wellbeing initiatives and policies designed to help staff balance work and family life. Organisers say acknowledging such practices can strengthen staff morale and retention, while also delivering wider social and economic benefits by supporting healthier families and more productive workplaces.

Among those honoured were Standard Chartered bank, which won in the multinationals category; Sterling Financial Holdings, recognised among financial institutions; Eko Distribution company, named winner in the large corporate category; ChamsAccess limited, which topped the SME category; and DavoDani Microfinance, recognised in the insurance category.

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According to the organisers, the awards are intended less as a celebration exercise and more as a tool for comparison and learning. By drawing attention to practical, evidence-based approaches to family-supportive work policies, IWFI says the initiative seeks to stimulate broader discussion, encourage peer learning and push organisations towards more sustainable workplace practices.

The event was supported bycorporate partners, including FSDH Holding Company Ltd, Credlanche Limited, Intercontinental Distillers Ltd, Nestlé Nigeria Plc and JUSTFOODS.

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The organisers have noted that the awards are intended to be the starting point of a longer-term programme.

According to Bayo Adeoye, communications officer , IWFI, “These awards are intended to mark the beginning of a longer-term programme. Our next steps will include publishing anonymised benchmark findings, providing structured feedback to participating organisations, and running capacity-building sessions to help companies turn assessment results into stronger workplace policies. We will also continue to engage with government, the private sector and civil society to expand the adoption of family-friendly practices nationwide.”

Ngozi Ekugo is a Snr.Correspondent at Business day. She has an MSc in Management from the University of Hertfordshire, and is an associate member of CIPM. Her career spans multiple industries, including a brief stint at Goldman Sachs in London,

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