ICE 2026: CIPM boss charges HR professionals on value creation, impact delivery

…As over 5,000 delegates throng Abuja

Human Resource (HR) professionals in Nigeria have been urged to move beyond measuring activity, and focus, instead, on creating value and delivering impact.

The President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, gave the charge while welcoming over 5,000 delegates:  4,000 physical and 1,000 virtual, to the  ongoing  58th International Conference and Exhibition of the institute, tagged: “Repositioning for Value and Impact,” in Abuja.

Mallam Gobir stated further that organisations must increasingly assess success, not by the volume of work performed, but by the difference that work makes to business performance, productivity and growth.

He explained that this year’s edition of the conference, builds on conversations from previous editions, which had their focus on resilience and the future of work, adding that the 2026 conference represents a call to translate ideas into outcomes and ensure that people management contributed meaningfully to organisational and national development.

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The CIPM boss  further stated that the conference provided the delegates the opportunity  to examine how organisations can strengthen performance, improve productivity and create measurable value in a rapidly evolving world of work.

In his keynote address delivered to the audience, comprising: business leaders, policymakers, HR practitioners, academics and development experts from across Nigeria, the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, described the gathering as an important platform for addressing contemporary workplace challenges and advancing workforce development.

He commended CIPM for creating a forum that brought together practitioners, policymakers, employers, academics and other stakeholders to exchange ideas, share experiences and develop practical responses to issues shaping the world of work.

The Minister further acknowledged the Institute’s longstanding contribution to promoting ethical leadership, professional excellence and effective people management, while applauding its leadership for sustaining the conference and championing high standards of professionalism in HR in Nigeria

The Head of Service of Lagos State, Mr. Bode Agoro, also commended CIPM for its role in professionalizing HR  Management in Lagos State and across Nigeria.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Prof. Tunji Olaopa,  expressed the delight that the institute has consistently worked to raise the standards of people management while building the capacity of people managers nationwide.

He also reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the Institute as a reform partner in the Nigerian Civil Service.

Speaking on behalf of the President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Rakiya Bosede Haastrup,  highlighted the importance of developing people and promoting sound workplace practices, describing  such efforts as essential to national development.