Institute, Sanwo-Olu Advocate Human Capital Investment For Economic Growth

Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) have called for sustained investment in human capital development, describing it as a critical driver of economic growth and Nigeria’s preparedness for the future of work in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Speaking at the Special Human Resource Forum (SHRF) 2026 organised by CIPM, Sanwo-Olu said Lagos State is committed to positioning itself as a global hub for human capital development, stressing that achieving the vision requires strong collaboration with professional bodies such as CIPM.

According to the governor, the Institute remains a strategic partner in building the skilled workforce needed to drive innovation, productivity and sustainable economic development.

“There is no way we can achieve that without a real partnership with institutes like CIPM. Your vision and our vision as a state are truly aligned,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu noted that rapid technological advancements, particularly the rise of AI, have placed greater responsibility on Human Resource professionals to prepare workers with the skills required for the evolving workplace.

“HR personnel cannot take the back seat. You really need to know what skills your staff require and where the future of work is going,” he said.

The governor also commended CIPM for strengthening workforce capacity through its professional development programmes, noting that many Lagos State public servants have benefited from the Institute’s training and certification initiatives.

“I have seen the consistent level of competencies that the Institute has developed in the system, and particularly how it has helped us in the public sector space. I am truly proud of the growth I have seen over the last decade. I am one of your quiet cheerleaders. I will do everything to ensure that the Institute takes its rightful place among other professional institutes in the country,” he added.

In his remarks, the president and chairman of the Governing Council of CIPM, Ahmed Ladan Gobir, urged HR professionals to ensure that investments in human capital translate into inclusive economic growth as AI continues to reshape the global economy.

Speaking on the forum’s theme, “People Policy and Performance in the Age of AI: HR Leadership for Economic Transformation and Poverty Reduction,” Gobir said the true measure of AI’s success would lie in its ability to improve livelihoods rather than widen inequality.

“History will not remember us for how quickly we adopted artificial intelligence. History will remember us for whether artificial intelligence improved the lives of our people, whether it created jobs or displaced livelihoods, and whether it reduced poverty or widened inequality,” he said.

Delivering the keynote address, global AI and leadership expert Erica Farmer stressed that human capital investment must remain at the heart of AI adoption strategies if Africa is to unlock the technology’s economic potential.

Farmer said AI could contribute as much as $1 trillion to Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2035, but warned that the projected gains would only be realised through deliberate investments in skills development, leadership and workforce adaptation.

“Potential doesn’t automatically equal prosperity. We need to take people on that journey, and this is the defining moment for HR,” she said.

She described HR leaders as central to helping organisations navigate workforce transformation, arguing that technology alone cannot deliver economic progress without people-focused leadership.