Institute Urges Firms To Embed Diversity, Inclusion In Business Strategy

The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) has urged organisations to move beyond treating diversity and inclusion as policy statements and instead integrate them into their core business strategies to drive innovation, productivity and sustainable growth.

The Institute made the call at its 2026 CEO/CHRO/HRD Forum held under the theme, “Refocusing Diversity and Inclusion in the Organisation: The CEO and HR’s Perspectives.” The forum brought together chief executive officers, chief human resource officers and other senior business leaders to examine the role of leadership in building inclusive and high-performing organisations.

Speaking at the event, President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CIPM, Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, FCIPM, fnli, said meaningful organisational transformation begins with leadership, stressing that diversity and inclusion can only succeed when they are embedded in business strategy and championed from the top.

Gobir noted that organisations with diverse leadership teams consistently make better decisions, foster innovation and achieve stronger business outcomes because they benefit from a wider range of perspectives and experiences.

He, however, stressed that diversity and inclusion should not undermine competence, insisting that merit must remain the foundation of inclusive workplaces.

According to him, organisations become more innovative, resilient and sustainable when diversity and excellence are pursued together.

Delivering the goodwill message of Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Permanent Secretary, Public Service Office, Mrs. Sunkanmi Olasunkanmi Oyegbola, FCIPM, urged organisations to assess diversity and inclusion based on measurable outcomes rather than the existence of policies or committees.

She said businesses that intentionally create opportunities and eliminate barriers consistently outperform those that fail to embrace inclusive practices.

In his keynote address, the Managing Director of FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc, Mr. Roger Philippe Adou, described diversity and inclusion as a business imperative that requires strong leadership commitment, clear policies and accountability.

He explained that organisations must go beyond representation to ensure diverse voices actively influence decision-making, noting that inclusive teams are more innovative and better positioned to respond to the needs of diverse markets.

Adou said FrieslandCampina WAMCO deliberately promotes gender balance, regional representation and psychological safety to enable employees contribute freely and strengthen business performance across Nigeria.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Dr. Funke Adepoju, challenged organisations to move beyond representation and build workplaces where inclusion and a sense of belonging form part of the organisational culture.

She maintained that merit and inclusion complement each other, urging employers to widen opportunities through talent development while maintaining high performance standards.

The forum also highlighted the strategic partnership between chief executives and human resource leaders in shaping workplace culture, developing talent and preparing organisations for future challenges.

Participants concluded by calling on organisations to move beyond viewing diversity as a compliance requirement and instead embrace inclusion as a strategic tool for driving innovation, employee engagement and long-term business performance. They were also encouraged to translate the forum’s discussions into concrete workplace actions capable of delivering measurable organisational impact.