In this interview, Yaa Birago Ofori-Addo, HRD of Advans Ghana, and Abosede Olu-Donald, HRD of Advans Nigeria, discuss the strategic role of human resources in supporting sustainable growth across Advans entities. As part of a network of MFis in africa, Advans places people development, leadership, and organizational culture at the heart of its mission to deliver responsible financial services and long-term impact.

“My name is Yaa Birago Ofori-Addo, I’m the HRD of Advans Ghana. I’ve joined on the 20th of November 2024. And today I have the honor of having a short interview with Abosede Olu-Donald, the HRD for Advans Nigeria. And I’m happy to have this opportunity because Abosede has been in the industry for a while so she has enough experience. And she’s also been with Advans since April 2023.

So Abosede, my first question would be, what lessons have you learned so far that you think could help me in my journey in Advans Ghana?

Okay, so welcome to the Advans Family! I would like to say there are three major people you’ll be serving: your Managing Director MD, the employees, the business.
So it’s important that you understand these three people. Your MD because you’ll be a mediator between the employees and the management. So you must be able to have a way of meeting with your M.D to always have the needs of the employees met. And the business because whatever you do must have impact on the business. So you must be able to understand the business. And of course the people. You must be able to understand their needs. If you don’t know their needs, you know we have diverse culture, so you must know what matters to everyone and be able to meet them at the point of their needs. I think with that you will succeed on the whole. It’s very easy.

Sure. I agree with you. Thank you for that. I would like to know the levers of attraction for our candidates. What do you think?

Well, to be candid, we as employees, our needs are insatiable. But there are basic things that everybody wants to see: Career growth.
So I want to join an organization where I feel secured and I feel that my career with the organization will have a progression. So I’m in today, by tomorrow I know what will be my next level within the organization. So everybody wants to have this growth. So I think if you can have a good career plan for the employees, it’s going to be very okay. And then from time to time, working with data, you should be able to have us compared with other competitors to be sure that we are not lagging behind in any way. So you are able to attract good candidates with this effort.

I think I agree with you. I mean, if I’m to put myself in their shoes, if I’m being recruited and I know that my career path is quite transparent and I know where I’m going to be in the next three years, I think it’s something that would easily make me take on the role and want to stay, of course.

Okay, I would also want to know the main impact you think we as HRDs and all the subsidiaries can have on our employees in Advans?

Well, that’s a very tricky question. But I’ll tell you, you know, like I mentioned, growth, growth, growth. Also it’s the way we plan for the company. For example, during the succession planning, we must ensure that everyone feels confident within the pipeline for succession and growth, it’s an impulse that we, HR, we bring to the table. Also is how we do our analysis. We impact those people because many of us, we just work. We don’t really know to what extent is what we do. When we bring in the L&D and we are able to have an analysis of the impact of an individual within maybe a job role, it’s also something that helps.

Okay, great. And I think so far meeting all the HRDs in the subsidiaries, I can tell for a fact that the support system is really strong. And I think it’s something that could also help. I’m really grateful so far how you’ve been warm towards me.

Thank you. But that’s the Advans family culture. We have a great culture being in different countries. We have time where we come together. We are able to share ideas, so we are able to build one another, affiliate to affiliate and success is assured, definitely.

Thank you so much. I’m grateful for your time.

Thank you.”

Through strong leadership, structured career development, and a shared organizational culture, HR teams play a critical role in strengthening Advans’ institutions and their ability to serve clients effectively. By empowering employees and fostering inclusive workplaces, Advans reinforces its commitment to microfinance international, while ensuring that its institutions remain resilient, people-centered, and aligned with their broader social mission, including expanding access to microfinance for women and underserved entrepreneurs.

To go further, discover this video on educational initiative & gender program by Advans Ghana