In a strategic move to prepare young Nigerians for workplace readiness and leadership, the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) has conducted a comprehensive training programme for all corps members at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Delta State. The exercise equipped participants with essential people management and leadership skills required for success in today’s dynamic world of work.
The initiative reflects the current administration’s SOAR Agenda a transformation blueprint fully aligned with the CIPM 2025–2027 Strategic Plan. It underscores the President’s commitment to optimising the Institute’s membership value proposition by engaging younger demographics and strengthening strategic collaborations with government agencies such as the NYSC.
Held from October 8 to 9, 2025, the two-day programme formed part of the Institute’s ongoing youth employability initiative designed to empower serving corps members nationwide with practical, workplace-relevant skills. Notably, 548 corps members registered as new members of the Institute during the exercise.
Themed “Effective People Management Skills,” the engagement blended learning, mentorship, and professional development in a highly interactive format. Participants gained insights into leadership, teamwork, communication, and workplace behaviour, while also exploring pathways to professional certification under the CIPM framework.
Delivering the lead session, Mr. Sean Olabode Badiru, MCIPM, Chairman of the CIPM Young Professionals Engagement Committee, described people management as the foundation of career success across all professions. He emphasized that leadership begins with self-management before extending to the ability to influence others.
“Leadership is not about title or position it is about influence,” he said. “You can begin to lead from wherever you are, even as a corps member. The real proof of leadership is not what you are called, but the value you bring.”
Badiru, who also serves as an elected Council Member of the Institute and CEO of Africa Tech Hub, guided participants through seven practical learning areas, including self-management, emotional intelligence, managing up and across, handling conflict, and navigating difficult supervisors. Using relatable workplace scenarios, he urged corps members to view their NYSC experience as a leadership classroom and to cultivate habits that reflect discipline, clarity, and respect for others. He further noted that the success of any organization depends largely on how well its people are managed.
“Technical skills may get you a job,” he said, “but people skills will determine how far you go. Every employer is looking for someone who can collaborate, communicate clearly, and solve problems without drama.”
On the second day, Mrs. Tega Lynn Olowohunwa, MCIPM, Chairman of the CIPM Delta State Branch, spoke on the importance of professional development and encouraged corps members to take advantage of the Institute’s early-career membership opportunities. She explained that as the statutory body responsible for regulating Human Resource Management practice in Nigeria, the CIPM remains committed to building a new generation of competent and ethical professionals.
“CIPM’s focus is not only to develop HR professionals but also to equip all young Nigerians regardless of discipline with people management skills that make them more employable and effective in any field,” she said.
Participants received Certificates of Participation, while new members were granted waivers on the initial registration fee for the Institute’s professional examination. The initiative, which is being extended to NYSC camps nationwide, also provides corps members with access to mentorship platforms connecting them with experienced professionals.
Many participants described the training as both practical and transformational. “It gave me a new understanding of how to work with people,” said one of the attendees. “It made me realize that leadership is something you practice daily, not a position you wait for.”
The engagement forms part of CIPM’s broader Youth Inclusion Strategy, which uses structured interventions to prepare Nigeria’s young graduates for the realities of the workplace, build character, and strengthen national capacity. Through its collaboration with the NYSC, the Institute continues to extend its impact beyond the HR profession positioning itself as a leading driver of people development and ethical leadership across sectors.
