GXO graduate begins secondment in Ghana
Kemi Ojo-Osagie, Graduate Associate for GXO, has begun a six-month secondment in Ghana with Transaid, supporting the nationwide rollout of a newly developed standard for training of drivers of Heavy Goods Vehicles.
Kemi is primarily focusing on advocacy and outreach work, speaking to commercial vehicle drivers and a variety of stakeholders involved in the Driving Safety Across Ghana project. A participant in GXO’s esteemed two-year graduate programme, Kemi extended her time to participate in the Transaid secondment.
Commenting on the opportunity, Kemi says: “The secondment with Transaid was mentioned in my initial induction at GXO, but I wasn’t sure it was going to be an option for me because of scheduling. The extension was an opportunity I couldn’t refuse, and it has been life-changing so far. I feel very fortunate that Transaid created space for me within their organisation.”
Early priorities for Kemi include the development of fact sheets for drivers, and supporting the sensitisation of drivers at truck parks close to coastal ports. By the end of her secondment, she aims to have extended the reach of this activity to more regions in Ghana.
Thelma Ayisi, Project Manager for Transaid in Ghana, says: “The secondees who join us every year are a testament to GXO as an organisation. They are always excellent additions to our team and offer impressive levels of expertise and professionalism. Kemi is no different and is already proving to be a fantastic colleague, and we’re excited for the opportunities she is going to have with us over the coming months.”
Gavin Williams, Managing Director, GXO Logistics UK and Ireland, and Transaid Trustee, says: “We are incredibly proud of our partnership with Transaid and we wish Kemi all the best with her secondment. Transaid’s road safety and driver training is a brilliant initiative for our graduates to get involved in, learning and teaching the importance of safety within logistics. At GXO we are committed to developing talent and providing meaningful opportunities for our colleagues to make a difference globally and I’m positive that Kemi will do just that.”
With funding from the Puma Energy Foundation, Transaid began driver training programmes in Ghana in 2021. Over the course of three years, more than 2,000 drivers have already received refresher training from 19 HGV driver trainers, and four master trainers. Training has been carried out to new standards crafted specifically for Ghana’s road transport sector, having been developed by more than 30 stakeholders with input from Transaid’s partners and experts in France, Tanzania, Uganda and the UK.
The opportunity to volunteer colleagues to work on secondment with Transaid is one of the exclusive benefits open to corporate supporters, with Transaid structuring secondments for anything from a week to more than a year. Kemi is the fourth graduate from GXO to take up a six-month secondment with Transaid, with a new graduate invited to apply every six months.
Kemi is focusing on advocacy and outreach work, speaking to commercial vehicle drivers and a variety of stakeholders involved in the Driving Safety Across Ghana project.