HR Must Continue To Evolve To Drive Organisational Performance – CIPM

The Abuja branch chairman of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, Mr Aina Segun Aina, has said human resources must continue to evolve from a traditional support function into a strategic partner that drives organisational performance, innovation, leadership, and sustainable business success.

During the 26th CIPM Abuja Branch Annual Conference and 6th Modupe Abiodun-Wright Awards, Aina said as the only statutory regulatory body for the practice of human resource management in Nigeria, CIPM is more than a professional institute. “It is a community of Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of excellence,” he said.

Aina described this year’s theme, “Elevating HR Impact: From Support Function to Strategic Business Driver,” as both timely and compelling.

He said, “The aspiration of building a globally competitive Nigerian economy places human capital development at the centre of national progress. Nations are ultimately transformed not by the abundance of their natural resources, but by the quality, capability, productivity, and resilience of their people.

“Consequently, the Human Resource profession plays an increasingly significant role in strengthening institutions, developing future-ready talent, promoting ethical leadership, and improving organisational competitiveness across both the public and private sectors.

“The Abuja Branch remains committed to advancing this mandate. Over the past year, we have deliberately strengthened stakeholder engagement, expanded strategic partnerships, promoted the professionalisation of Human Resource Management, enhanced member development through innovative learning initiatives, and increased the visibility and influence of our branch within the Institute and beyond.

“These achievements have been made possible through the dedication of our Executive Committee, Committee Chairpersons, volunteers, members, strategic partners, and the invaluable guidance of our Past Chairmen and Distinguished Fellows”.

The President of the Institute, Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, FCIPM, fnli,  in his goodwill message at the conference, said the World Economic Forum projects that by the end of this decade, technological advancement and Artificial Intelligence will redefine millions of jobs across the globe, adding that amidst this rapid transformation, one truth remains unchanged: organisations that invest in people consistently outperform those that do not. People are not just part of the business.

He said people are the business, and the custodians of that greatest asset are HR professionals, also adding that today, HR is no longer measured by the policies it writes but by the value it creates.

He said HE is no longer measured by the number of vacancies it fills, but by the capability it builds, not by the meetings it attends, but by the decisions it influences.

He said, “That is why this conference theme is both timely and transformational. It challenges every HR professional to move beyond administration to influence, beyond compliance to competitiveness, beyond processes to performance, and beyond strategy support”.