The Industrial Relations and Personnel Management Students Association of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, recently organized a thought-provoking symposium on the theme “Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Transform HR.” The event featured two distinguished guest speakers: Mr. Shakiru Lawal, Country HR Manager of Nestlé Nigeria Plc, and Engr. Sean Olabode Badiru, Co-Founder of Africa Tech Hub Ltd.
Mr. Shakiru Lawal opened the session with an enlightening talk on leveraging artificial intelligence to transform HR. He emphasized the importance of recognizing, attracting, developing, and retaining talent. Lawal introduced the students to various tools utilized at Nestle, including a digital learning platform for personalized employee training, a knowledge management system, an Applicant Tracking System, recruitment chatbots, and NesGPT—Nestlé’s internal ChatGPT solution. He detailed how each tool plays a crucial role in enhancing HR operations.
Nestlé complemented the event by distributing gift packs containing Nestle products to all attendees. Mr. Lawal also announced that students who performed exceptionally well at the symposium would be offered industrial training opportunities at Nestlé, reinforcing the company’s commitment to nurturing exceptional talents from undergraduate days.
Engr. Sean Olabode Badiru followed with a compelling address, urging students to become indispensable assets to organizations by developing problem-solving skills. He highlighted the importance of continuous self-improvement and adapting to the evolving job market. “The world belongs to those who are prepared to adapt and innovate,” Badiru stated. He encouraged students to set precise career goals by envisioning their future achievements and writing the CV of their future selves.
“You need to set your career goals now as an undergraduate. One powerful way to do this is to write the CV of your future now. Envision who you want to be in five years and write it down. Include your academic achievements, the skills you’ve developed, the professional qualifications and certifications you’ve earned, the professional development courses you’ve attended, the work experience you’ve gathered, and your achievements in those organizations. This is something I do regularly. As I get close to achieving the goals I’ve set in my future CV, I review and set new goals for another five years, which then become my driving force. As I approach these new goals, I review and set another vision for the future.”
Badiru also stressed the significance of gaining practical experience through internships and leveraging online learning platforms like Coursera, edX, and LinkedIn Learning. “Seek opportunities to intern with any organization to learn work culture and gain practical experience in your chosen career. This will put you in an advantageous position after school,” he said. He advised students to build professional networks via LinkedIn and to responsibly use social media to project a professional image. Introducing AI-enabled HR tools such as Greenhouse, Workday, Lattice, Udemy Business, and BambooHR, Badiru emphasized the need for tech-savviness in modern HR practices.
In his concluding remarks, Badiru introduced the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) as a valuable resource for aspiring HR professionals, offering opportunities for growth, learning, and networking. He promised continued support and investment in the students’ success.
Dr. Aramide Kuforiji, a lecturer in the IRPM Department and the Student Advisor, expressed gratitude to the guest speakers for their valuable insights. The department presented awards to both guest speakers in recognition of their contributions.
The symposium also saw the presence of other dignitaries, including Dr. Mustapha Hammed, Fund Manager at Nestlé Nigeria Trust (CPFA) Limited; Dr. Jiboku Joseph Olutoyin, Head of the Industrial Relations and Personnel Management Department at OOU; Dr. Ibironke, an IRPM lecturer at OOU; and Olusegun Ismail Oseni, President of the Industrial Relations and Personnel Management Student Association (IPMSA).
