One of Nigeria’s leading NGOs, LEAP, recently held the seventh edition of its CEO’s Forum and it certainly was a day no one would forget in a hurry.

LEAP, which provides leadership training programmes and executive coaching services for business owners, social entrepreneurs, and youth, brings some of the top executives in the country every year for its annual CEO Forum. This year’s edition, had in attendance the Chief Customer Officer of GT Assurance, Tosin Runsewe, whose presentation on Addressing the CEO’s Human Resource Challenge was nothing short of a tour de force.

Mr Runsewe listed the practical steps taken by GT Assurance which transformed it into a market leader in the industry with a turnover growth of 109% from N27 million in 2003 to N10 billion in 2011 and which caused a global research firm, Great Places to Work Institute, to adjudge it as the third best place to work in Nigeria.

Among other things, he listed vision, internal culture, and long term benefits for staff as some of the factors which have taken them to where they are and which can work for any CEO too.

The event also saw the launching of another LEAP publication: Attract, Motivate, and Retain Top Talent.

Frank Edoho of Who wants to be a Millionaire fame was the event compere, and there were lots of other incisive presentations, including one from Emiel Lensen, a Dutch entrepreneur.

Special guests who graced the occasion include Chidi Okoro, MD GlaxoSmithKline; Nike De Souza; MD People Prime; Bukky George, MD Healthplus; and Ms Isioma Ogodazi, Director HR Stanbic IBTC.