The President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, FCIPM, fnli, on Friday, 15 August 2025, joined distinguished stakeholders at the Stakeholders and Citizens Engagement Forum convened by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in Abuja.
Also present were the National Treasurer of CIPM, Mrs. Ogochukwu Egbuonu, FCIPM, and the Registrar/Chief Executive, Ms Oluwatoyin Naiwo, FCIPM, underscoring the Institute’s strong commitment to advancing dialogue on people management and public sector transformation.
In his goodwill message, Mallam Gobir expressed his delight at participating in the forum and extended his appreciation to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Esther Didi Walson-Jack, MCIPM, OON, mni, for convening such a critical dialogue.
He stated: “It is both a pleasure and a privilege to bring goodwill greetings on behalf of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria — the only professional body chartered by law to set standards, shape policies, and nurture the people who, in turn, nurture our institutions. I am truly delighted to be here and profoundly grateful to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Esther Didi Walson-Jack, MCIPM, OON, mni, for this remarkable opportunity. Thank you most sincerely, Ma.”
The CIPM President and Governing Council Chairman, Mallam Gobir, later joined Mrs Walson-Jack on a tour of some federal ministries.
During his remarks, he stressed the central role of human capital in national development, noting that policies and reforms can only thrive when people — skilled, motivated, and ethically grounded — are placed at the heart of implementation.
“The most valuable asset of any organisation walks out the door every evening, and we hope they come back the next morning. For the public service, this couldn’t be more true. Without our people, there will be no reform, no policy, and no transformation plan can truly take root,” he said.
He further highlighted the importance of stakeholder engagement as a bridge between policy and practice, as well as between government and citizens. According to him, forums of this nature strengthen accountability, transparency, and shared purpose.
Mallam Gobir also used the occasion to invite participants and the broader public service community to the 57th International Conference and Exhibition of CIPM, Africa’s largest HR event, scheduled to hold from 27–30 October 2025 at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja. The theme for the conference is “Reimagining the New World of Work.”
Reaffirming CIPM’s commitment to ensuring that people remain at the centre of policy execution in both the public and private sectors, the President concluded with a reminder:
“Great nations are built not only by policies written on paper, but by people inspired to make those policies work. And when people come first, progress always follows.”
