The Managing Director of ANOH Gas Processing Company Limited (AGPC), Mr James Makinde, has challenged young professionals in the company to embrace innovation, challenge conventional thinking and play an active role in shaping its future.
Makinde gave the charge at the inauguration of the AGPC Young Professionals Network (YPN) held at Seplat House in Lagos, where he delivered a message titled, “I just want you to happen”.
He urged members of the newly established network to see the YPN as more than a platform for social interaction, networking and personal development, stressing that its real value would be measured by the ideas, innovations and solutions it contributes to the business.
The AGPC managing director encouraged the young professionals to bring their energy and creativity into the workplace, question existing practices and provide fresh perspectives capable of improving the company’s performance.
He also challenged them to look beyond AGPC’s current operations and envision the company they would want to see over the next decade.
Makinde urged the members to think boldly about potential opportunities, including expansion, increased processing capacity, power generation, data centres, strategic partnerships and other initiatives that could influence the company’s growth trajectory.
He further encouraged the YPN to contribute to strengthening AGPC’s external visibility, communications and social media presence, noting that young professionals could play an important role in projecting the company’s achievements, capabilities and future aspirations.
Makinde also urged members not only to respond when challenged by management but to constructively challenge management with credible information, innovative ideas and practical solutions.
He congratulated the newly elected YPN executives and reminded them that leadership was not about being “in charge”, but about leading colleagues with humility, responsibility and inclusiveness.
He also encouraged those who contested the YPN elections but were not elected to remain engaged and continue contributing to the success of the network and the company.
The AGPC YPN was established to harness the energy, capabilities and potential of the company’s young workforce while creating opportunities for professional growth, collaboration, innovation and leadership development.
Its mission is to build “a connected, engaged and high-performing community of young professionals who contribute to operational excellence and AGPC’s long-term success through leadership, collaboration and innovation”.
The network will pursue this mission through five key pillars: Learn, Lead, Innovate, Connect and Impact, under the broader imperatives of Connect, Grow and Contribute.
The General Manager of Human Resources, Mr Kabiru Koko Rabiu, encouraged members to take full advantage of the opportunities provided by the YPN, noting its potential to strengthen coordination, unity and collaboration among the company’s young professionals.
Also speaking, the General Manager, Commercial, Mr Chris Iwhiwhu, challenged members to develop the ability to “influence without authority”.
He cautioned that the YPN should not become a union or agitation platform but should remain a purposeful community focused on collaboration, innovation and developing future leaders.
Iwhiwhu encouraged members to learn from experienced colleagues and use the network to bridge generational gaps rather than create them.
The inauguration formally established the leadership structure of the AGPC YPN, with the Managing Director serving as sponsor and the General Manager of Human Resources as mentor, alongside the elected executive committee and wider membership.
The network is expected to provide a platform for leadership development, innovation, knowledge sharing, collaboration and value creation, while preparing young professionals to take on greater responsibilities in the future.
While the inauguration formally launched the AGPC YPN, Makinde’s challenge has set a broader agenda for the network: to become a driving force for innovation, collaboration and the long-term growth of the company.
