Former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has called on Human Resource professionals to champion a humane, ethical, and future-ready workforce for Nigeria.
He made the call in Abuja during the closing ceremony of the 57th International Conference and Exhibition of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), where he addressed thousands of participants on the future of work and the responsible use of technology.
Commending the Institute for its role in shaping workplace standards, Prof. Osinbajo said, “CIPM has made giant strides in regulating the practice of people management in Nigeria.”
He observed that artificial intelligence and digital innovation are transforming workplaces globally and urged HR professionals to keep pace.
“AI has transformed everything about the world. The future of work is already here, shaped by rapid digital transformation and our youthful population,” he said. “We must continue to reskill and upskill to seize the opportunities of the new world of work.”
On ethics and governance, the former Vice President stressed the need for clear rules on the responsible use of technology.
“Ethical and responsible use of technology is critical, and HR must ensure this. HR should create clear ethical guidelines to regulate AI,” he said, adding that data should “serve as a tool of empowerment, not control.”
Prof. Osinbajo further underscored the importance of empathy, inclusion, and mental health in sustaining productivity.
“Prioritise employee wellbeing and mental health. Create a culture of empathy and inclusion to maintain productivity,” he advised. “The future of work will not be determined by technology alone, but by how organisations integrate human values in its deployment.”
This year’s conference attracted 5,019 participants—3,937 in-person delegates and 1,082 virtual attendees—making it Africa’s largest gathering of HR professionals. The event reaffirmed CIPM’s leadership in promoting people-management excellence and showcased Nigeria’s growing influence in shaping workplace trends across the continent.
The President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CIPM, Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, FCIPM, fnli, urged participants to apply lessons from the conference.
“Ensure you deploy the knowledge you gained from the conference in your various places of work,” he said, encouraging HR professionals to become agents of change within their organisations.
The closing Gala and Award Night saw 73 members conferred with the Fellowship of the Institute for their outstanding contributions to people management in Nigeria.
As the curtains fell on the conference, one message resonated: Nigeria’s future of work will not be shaped by technology alone, but by people who use it with empathy, ethics, and vision.
