The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) has reaffirmed its position as the country’s sole regulatory body for human resource management, warning that individuals practising HR without its certification are operating unlawfully.
The Institute stated this during its 70th Induction Ceremony, held recently in Ikeja, Lagos, where it formally inducted 1,573 new members into the profession. Speaking at the event, the President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CIPM, Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, FCIPM, fnli, said the Institute remains the only organisation empowered by an Act of Parliament to regulate HR practice in Nigeria.
Gobir said the recognition and influence enjoyed by CIPM over the years had been built on professionalism, consistency, and institutional credibility.
“The CIPM remains the only regulatory body chartered by an Act of Parliament to regulate the practice of human resource management in Nigeria. That, in itself, is not merely a title. That is authority. That is credibility,” he said.
He described the 70th induction ceremony as a significant milestone in the Institute’s history, noting that it reflected decades of developing leaders and transforming workplaces across Nigeria and beyond.
“Today is not just another induction ceremony. Today is indeed a legacy wearing a standing ovation. Today is history speaking loudly to the future,” Gobir told the newly inducted members and guests.
Reflecting on the Institute’s growth and enduring relevance, Gobir said CIPM’s success had been achieved through deliberate effort and sustained institutional discipline.
“Legacies are not downloaded overnight from Google or from the Apple Store. Legacies are built patiently, carefully, and consistently. And that is the story of CIPM,” he added.
Gobir further noted that the Institute had played a central role in repositioning human resource management from a purely administrative support function to a strategic leadership discipline within organisations.
According to him, CIPM’s partnerships with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), United Kingdom, and Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR), Canada, have strengthened the international recognition of CIPM-certified professionals.
“Our certificates are global passports,” Gobir said, adding that CIPM-certified HR professionals are increasingly recognised across international labour markets.
He also encouraged the newly inducted members to continue investing in professional development through the Institute’s various learning platforms, including the CIPM HR Leadership Academy, the International Conference and Exhibition (ICE), and other capacity-building programmes.
A breakdown released during the ceremony showed that 65 professionals were inducted through the Executive Route, 420 through the HR Practitioners’ Route, while 1,088 members joined through the Examination Route, bringing the total number of inductees to 1,573.
Delivering the keynote address, HR expert Mr. Segun Omotosho spoke on the theme, “HR Strategies for Engaging and Empowering a Multigenerational Workforce.”
Omotosho said organisations must adapt to evolving workforce demographics by creating inclusive workplace environments in which employees across generations feel valued, engaged, and motivated.
He explained that employee engagement reflects the emotional and intellectual commitment employees have towards their organisations, stressing the need for HR professionals to promote diversity, collaboration, and fairness within the workplace.
According to him, organisations can improve productivity and innovation by implementing inclusive policies, encouraging cross-generational teamwork, organising team-building initiatives, and eliminating workplace bias.
The event also featured awards recognising outstanding academic performance. Mrs. Kafayat Anuoluwapo Azeez-Fashola emerged as the Overall Best Graduating Student for the December 2025 examination diet, while Mrs. Sanusi Karimot Adedamola received the same honour for the March 2026 diet.
Both award recipients received cash prizes, alongside an all-expense-paid trip to attend the Institute’s 58th International Conference and Exhibition, scheduled to take place in Abuja from September 21 to 24, 2026.
In his closing remarks, Gobir urged the newly inducted members to uphold professionalism, competence, and ethical conduct throughout their careers.
“Walk with confidence. Walk with your shoulders raised high. Work with competence, but work with character,” he advised.
The ceremony attracted HR professionals, corporate executives, business leaders, and inductees from across the country, underscoring the growing significance of professional standards and regulatory compliance within Nigeria’s human resource sector.
