Chinwe Odita
Stakeholders at the 2026 Employee Assistance Programme, EAP, Summit have urged Nigerian organisations to place employee wellbeing at the centre of business strategy, describing workers as an organisation’s greatest asset, not just a resource to be managed.
The two-day summit, which opened on August 12, brought together corporate leaders, HR professionals, health experts and development partners under the theme _“Employees: Our Greatest Assets to be Valued, Protected, Developed and Celebrated.”_
EAP began in Nigeria in 2023 as a movement of concerned professionals convened by Ven. Adelowo Adesina, Managing Director of Sages and Scribes Consultants and retired Anglican priest.
The inaugural edition focused on _“Employee Wellness for Productivity and Performance”_, establishing the link between staff wellbeing and organisational success.
In 2024, the conversation shifted to _“Employee Wellness: From Wages to Welfare”_, challenging employers to look beyond salaries.
The 2025 summit, _“Employee Wellness: The Imperative of Social and Health Insurance”_, stressed social protection, healthcare access and sustainable support systems.
This year’s edition seeks to deepen the commitment by affirming that employees must be valued, protected, developed and celebrated for workplaces to thrive.
In his welcome address, Convener Ven. Adelowo Adesina thanked special guests and strategic partners for their support.
He noted that the summit has grown into an annual platform for exchanging ideas, forging partnerships and sharing innovative solutions to build healthier, happier and more productive workplaces.
Speakers at the event reiterated the need for organisations to integrate mental health, social protection and welfare programmes into core HR policies, warning that neglecting staff wellbeing undermines productivity and retention.
The 2026 summit drew support from major organisations committed to workplace wellbeing, including TotalEnergies, NLNG, Shell, Chevron, Seplat Energy, Heirs Energy, AGIP, NECA, Access Bank, FCMB, FMN, Cadbury, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, CIPM, Nigerian Association of Social Workers, NOUN, EAPA, Sages and Scribes Consultants, and others.
Participants agreed that with rising workplace stress, economic pressure and health challenges, a deliberate investment in employee assistance programmes is no longer optional but a business imperative.
The summit continues today with panel sessions and workshops focused on practical tools for implementing wellness programmes across public and private sector organisations.
