Building inclusive workplaces that recognise diversity and foster a sense of belonging is critical to improving productivity, creativity, and long-term organisational success, the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) has said.

The institute stated this during its 70th induction ceremony, during which over 1,500 people were admitted into the human resources (HR) profession.

In his keynote address, the guest speaker and fellow of the institute, Segun Omotosho, spoke on ‘HR Strategies for Engaging and Empowering a Multigenerational Workforce,’ highlighting the evolving demographics of today’s workforce and the need for organisations to adapt.

Omotosho described employee engagement as a measure of workers’ emotional and intellectual commitment to their organisations.

He said that HR professionals must create environments where employees across different generations feel valued and motivated to contribute meaningfully.

The HR expert outlined key strategies for achieving this, including promoting diversity and inclusion policies, encouraging cross-generational collaboration, organising team-building activities and eliminating workplace bias.

The President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CIPM, Ahmed Gobir, described the ceremony as a defining moment in the institute’s history, celebrating 70 induction ceremonies that have raised leaders, shaped professionals, transformed workplaces, and redefined the world of work in Nigeria and beyond.

Reflecting on the institute’s journey over the years, Gobir noted that the achievements and relevance of the CIPM were built through deliberate effort, professionalism and institutional consistency.

He described the institute as a transformative force that repositioned human resource management from an administrative support function to a strategic leadership role within organisations.

The CIPM boss charged the newly inducted members to uphold professionalism, competence, and ethical conduct in their careers.

“Walk with confidence. Walk with your shoulders raised high. Work with competence, but work with character,” he advised.

He further highlighted the Institute’s growing international relevance through its mutual recognition partnerships with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), UK and Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR), Canada.

According to him, the partnerships have strengthened the global competitiveness of CIPM-certified professionals.

He encouraged the newly inducted members to embrace continuous professional development through the institute’s various learning platforms.

The ceremony also featured recognition of academic excellence, with Kafayat Azeez-Fashola emerging as the Overall Best Graduating Student for the December 2025 examination diet, while Sanusi Adedamola was named the Overall Best Graduating Student for the March 2026 diet.

Both received cash prizes and an all-expense-paid trip to attend the institute’s 58th International Conference and Exhibition scheduled for September 21–24, 2026, in Abuja.

A breakdown of the inductees showed that 65 professionals were admitted through the Executive Route, 420 through the HR Practitioners’ Route and 1,088 through the Examination Route, bringing the total to 1,573.