As part of efforts to build capacities of the next generation of Human Resource (HR) practitioners, Tullow Ghana has launched an HR Mentoring Programme in Accra. The flagship initiative is aimed at bringing together a pool of top notch HR practitioners towards nurturing the next generation of HR leaders. The one-year pilot programme by Tullow Ghana which is in collaboration with the Institute of Human Resource Management Practitioners (IHRMP) would imbibe experimental knowledge, skills and competencies into mentees for their expected modern day businesses. Speaking at the launch, the HR and Business Services Director of Tullow Ghana, Irene Asare said the initiative is also to address the increasing demands from businesses for HR professionals to be real enablers of business growth. She noted that, the key trends that all HR practitioners need to be concerned with now is a superior employee experience, continuous learning millennial, work-life balance to take momentum, culture over compensation and relooking at performance management. Madam Asare said 38 candidates applied for the programme, however, the mentees went through a selection process where they presented why they would like to be part of the HR Mentoring Programme. "We managed to recruit 25, and each will be assigned to a senior HR professional as a mentor," she explained. Ms. Asare explained that the mentees would have one-on-one quarterly mentoring sessions from the assigned mentors in addition to the monthly capacity building sessions. She said Tullow initiated the programme because it formed part of their shared prosperity agenda and also urged the IHRMP to continue to be the backbone to the project as they started from the initial stage. Ms. Asare called on the mentors to care about what they knew as well as the persons they would be sharing their experiences and knowledge with. "To the mentees, this is a rare opportunity as you already know that. I need not to say, make the best of it,” she urged. "Maximise this rare privilege to build your career and network to achieve your career and goals in life," she advised. Also, the Managing Director of Tullow Ghana Limited, Charles Darku advised HR practitioners to be champions of change and be able to create sustainable value that feeds into making the business productive. He also encouraged HR practitioners not to be intimidated in any environment they found themselves but rather, be adaptive to drive change in their institutions, themselves and through innovations.  “HR practitioners must also be strategic thinkers deeply knowledgeable about their external business environment” Mr. Darko stated. On his part, the President of IHRMP, Edward Kwarpong expressed profound gratitude to Tullow Ghana for the timely initiative. He advised members of the IHRMP to emulate the Tullow example to set standards and major milestones that would provide mentors, mentees and assess impact of the programme that would sustain their efforts. Mr. Kwarpong pledged their support to the HR Mentoring Programme to make it a success. "Silver and gold, we may not have, but we will have the men and women with experience and calibre to serve as mentors and consultants," he assured. Among the prospective organisations of the mentors are IHRMP, Tullow Ghana Limited, Airtel Tigo, Ghana Water Company Limited, Guinness Ghana Limited, Gamey and Gamey Consult, Multimedia Group, Origin 8, O and A Consult, and Plan International. Some mentees who spoke to the Ghana News Agency promised to take the opportunity seriously to make hay while the sun shone. They lauded IHRMP and Tullow Ghana Limited for the efforts that would help position HR in the country on a higher pedestal.