GapX seeks to increase women recruitment in Africa

A recruitment and training startup GapX said it has commenced operation and aims to improve diversity in the workplaces.

GapX in a statement said it recognises that lots of women take time off work at a point in their lives to focus on family, thereby stalling their career advancement and in many cases, stopping it altogether.

This, it said, is limiting the number of highly qualified women in the workplace.

Positioning itself firmly as the authority on gender inclusion and diversity across Africa, the company said it fosters inclusive workplace policies and initiatives that support the career advancement of working women in Africa, with the goal of increasing the number of women in leadership positions.

GapX cited the Gender Equality Index Report from the African Development Bank which says African women are held back from fulfilling their potential by many constraints, whether as leaders in public life, in the boardroom, or in growing their businesses, thereby holding back the potential of the continent’s economy.

The company said the challenge hinder a greater number of women from having “commensurate experience as their male counterpart due to cultural and other issues, which translates to a lower pay band and inability to fill the same roles their male counterparts can fill.

“GapX seeks to bridge the gap through a practical approach to gender diversity and inclusion.”

The company explained that its recruitment arm receives applications from working women, forming a pool of highly qualified professional women across the continent.

This pool, according to GapX, is matched to companies seeking to fill full time, short term or freelance vacancies, from junior to senior management and even board levels.

GapX said it scan through hundreds of CVs, offering training to those who need to upskill and immediately matching skilled labour with companies who need these skills.

“GapX recognizes the inhibition of women as they progress their careers. The company has opened endorsed training programmes, specifically targeting working women,” GapX said.

“Bespoke courses such as its Career Relaunch programme combines training and internship to help women who have been out of jobs for a while, ease back into the workplace. Its maternity programme supports mothers back from maternity and all working mothers in the workplace to strengthen their mental and physical capabilities as they combine work with family. Its Senior Management and Boardroom training prepare women to advance into leadership roles seamlessly.”

GapX co-founder, Oluyemisi Wole-Ojomo, said they “are proud to roll out this initiative in Nigeria and across Africa. GapX is a demonstration of our belief in the potential of women and our commitment to making corporate organisations and our nation, much better.”

A member of GapX board of directors Ifesinachi Okoli-Okpagu noted that “We believe that women deserve more opportunities in the workplace. This is one way we can achieve this.”