The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria(CIPM) has charged about 274 Lagos human resources(HR) professionals, who were inducted into the institute, to drive change in the country.
CIPM had earlier conducted a specialised induction ceremony for public service staff of the Lagos State government, marking a significant milestone in the professionalisation of human resource management within the state’s civil service.
No fewer than 141 officers were formally inducted into the Institute, with eight individuals inducted as Full Members (MCIPM) and 133 inducted as Associate Members (ACIPM) through the HR Practitioners route at the 65th Induction Ceremony of CIPM held in Lagos at the weekend
At the ceremony themed: ‘Resilient People, Responsive Service: Charting the Future of HR in the Public Service,’ the president and chairman of CIPM, Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, in his keynote address, underscored the evolving role of HR in driving transformation across government institutions.
While welcoming the inductees at the event, he described the event as ‘a coronation of potential,’ and reminded the new members that their CIPM lapel is not just symbolic, but a legal license to practise HR in Nigeria.
He encouraged them to enrol in the newly launched CIPM HR Leadership Academy, designed to deepen expertise across HR value chains, and to actively participate in Lagos State branch and Alausa Chapter events, as well as national programmes like the CIPM International Conference and Exhibition (ICE), among others.
According to him, ‘We are not here to tick boxes or crown titles. We are here to awaken trailblazers who will make the public service not just functional, but phenomenal.’ He urged the inductees to embrace resilience and responsiveness, noting that ‘resilience is not forged in comfort; it is hammered in the heat of challenges and polished in the grit of persistence.’
The head of Service of Lagos State, Mr. Shuaheeb Bode Agoro, who was represented by the permanent secretary of the Local Government Commission, Mrs. Abosede George, in his remarks, emphasised the centrality of HR in organisational effectiveness, stating that, HR is the most important department of any organisation. Without it, other branches are ineffective. She charged the inductees to leave a legacy of excellence, urging them to ensure they leave the civil service better than they met it.
The guest speaker, who is also the permanent secretary, Office of Local Governments, Establishments & Training, Mrs. Bibilomo Olayide Olushekun, delivered a compelling lecture on the future of HR in public service, highlighting the urgent need for transformation in the face of digital disruption, economic volatility, and rising public expectations.
Public service has moved from paper-based to digital technology. HR is key in this transition, she said. She outlined the attributes of a modern workplace, including Digital HR, Agile teams, Real-time service, and Transparency and Accountability, stressing that HR must lead the charge in reshaping policies, reskilling staff, and driving innovation.
Olushekun warned that traditional bureaucratic systems, marked by slow approvals and outdated practices, breed dysfunction and public frustration. She called on HR professionals to be the bridge between today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities, asserting that without a resilient and responsive HR driving the transition, progress stalls.
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