Strategic Outsourcing Limited (SOL) on Monday celebrated its 19th anniversary at its Lagos Head Office, with a renewed call for staff to pursue professional certification and career development rooted in personal ambition.
With a mission to deliver exceptional staffing solutions that not only meet the demands of the market but also support the growth and development of our clients’ businesses, Strategic Outsourcing Limited has built a reputation for excellence by consistently providing high-quality workforce solutions tailored to the specific needs of our clients.
Monday’s event brought together company leadership and employees in a reflective gathering aimed at reinforcing SOL’s long-standing vision of transforming lives through employment and skills advancement.
In his address, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Olufemi Ogunlowo, stated that the company’s success should not be judged solely by financial metrics, but by the number of lives positively impacted through its operations.
“Our mission is to give young people a decent start in life, and our vision is to be a place where dreams come true,” Ogunlowo said. “This celebration is not about me. It is about you—the staff—whose loyalty, resilience and growth have made SOL what it is today.”
The CEO addressed concerns regarding declining compliance with SOL’s longstanding policy requiring graduate employees to become certified HR professionals within three years of joining the organization. While acknowledging the day as one of celebration, Ogunlowo stressed that true success lies in individual advancement.
He said: “We’re not achieving our vision if our staff are not growing professionally,” he remarked, instructing that a list of non-certified staff who have been with the company for over three years be compiled for direct engagement. “If you don’t want to be certified, let us revisit and revise the policy. But we cannot ignore it any longer.”
Ogunlowo also announced discretionary promotions for high-performing staff and encouraged others to familiarise themselves with SOL’s policy of promoting staff every two years by initiating the process once they believe they have met the criteria for it.
As the company nears the end of its second decade in the people management business, he urged staff to take charge of their personal growth, pursue relevant certifications, and actively shape their futures.
“Let’s shift the future. And part of shaping the future is preparing for it,” Ogunlowo concluded.
Earlier in the programme, General Manager Dr. Akin Olaniyan welcomed attendees and shared anecdotes illustrating SOL’s lasting influence on former employees.
He recalled encounters with two individuals who had previously worked at SOL and expressed gratitude for the foundational experiences and training they received.
“One of them returned after over 15 years to testify that SOL had equipped her for opportunities abroad,” Olaniyan said. “The other said his initial experience with SOL made it an easy decision to accept another opportunity when it came.”
Also speaking at the event, Mrs. Omolabake Dada, Head, Internal Control, appreciated the MD for the opportunity she has enjoyed so far and the growth that she has recorded. She mentioned that she came into SOL looking for a job with the intention to work for two years, but instead, she found a career.
Mrs. Raimot Adegoke, Team Lead, Payroll Officer, encouraged other staff to put their hearts and best into whatever tasks they are given, noting that such commitment helps them acquire more skills relevant for the global market.
As the company prepares to enter its third decade, both leaders encouraged staff to take ownership of their growth, embrace professional certification, and proactively shape their future.
Giving the closing remarks, Mr. Wasiu Oyedeji, Divisional Head, Financial Control, highlighted the MD’s people-centered approach, saying “There’s a saying that for companies, staff are their most valuable asset, and that is exactly what the MD has demonstrated today.”
Founded in 2006, SOL is ISO 9001-2015 certified, underscoring its commitment to a world-class Quality Management System, which has enables it to manage over 200,000 staff for clients across every sector of the economy since it opened for business.
