The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) has charged human resources (HR) professionals to take the lead in driving workplace transformation, urging them to embrace innovation, strategic leadership and ethical practice as organisations navigate an increasingly dynamic and digital world of work.

The charge was given at the institute’s 71st induction ceremony, during which 78 new members were admitted into the profession.

Held virtually, the ceremony also reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to professionalism, innovation and excellence in the regulation and practice of human resources management in Nigeria.

Speaking at the ceremony, the President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CIPM, Ahmed Gobir, said the changing nature of work requires HR professionals to remain agile, innovative and responsive to emerging realities.

Gobir described the inductees as “78 success stories,” noting that their admission into the institute represented much more than the award of professional certificates.

He urged the new members to wear their professional status with pride, uphold the highest ethical standards, and actively participate in the institute’s activities at the branch, chapter, and national levels.

In his keynote presentation, ‘Raising the Bar of Professional Standards: HR as a Steward of Transformation’, the Guest Speaker, Dr Collins Edebiri, challenged HR professionals to move beyond traditional administrative responsibilities and become strategic partners in organisational growth and transformation.

Edebiri noted that the HR profession has evolved into a strategic business function responsible for shaping organisational culture, developing talent, driving employee engagement and enabling sustainable business performance.

He said modern HR professionals must demonstrate strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, data-driven decision-making, coaching capability, innovation and sound ethical judgement to remain relevant in today’s rapidly changing business environment.

Edebiri further stressed that HR practitioners are no longer merely custodians of personnel policies but architects of organisational success whose responsibilities extend to leadership development, workforce planning, organisational change, culture building and talent management.

Vice President of CIPM, Chidinma Obiejesi, reminded the newly inducted members that they were joining the profession at a defining moment when strategic human resources leadership is critical to organisational success.

She urged them to continually raise professional standards, uphold the institute’s values, and serve as agents of transformation in their respective organisations.

She reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to leveraging technology while equipping HR professionals with the competencies required to lead people and organisations successfully in an increasingly digital workplace.