Practising HR Without Certification Breaches Nigerian Law, Institute Warns Inductees

The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) has warned its inductees not to operate without Human Resources (HR) certification, as doing so, contravened Nigerian law.

This is even as the Institute inducted 1,261 new members at its 68th Induction Ceremony, reiterating its mandate as the sole regulatory body for Human Resource Management practice in Nigeria.

It also professionals to build workplaces where employees find engagement, fulfillment, and a deep sense of belonging.

At the Induction ceremony held in Lagos, the president and chairman of the governing council, Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, welcomed the inductees and charged them to uphold CIPM’s professional standards.

He reminded practitioners that only CIPM-certified professionals are permitted by law to practice HR in Nigeria, cautioning that, individuals who operate without certification remain in breach of existing regulations.

He also announced that the Institute will begin delisting non-financial members from Wednesday, 31st December, 2025, encouraging all affected members to regularise their status by renewing their annual dues.

Gobir, at the 68th Induction Ceremony of the Institute, held recently in Lagos, Nigeria, emphasised the theme of the ceremony, ‘Beyond Engagement to Fulfillment: Building a Culture that Nurtures Belonging and Purpose at Work,’ noting that, modern organisations require more than traditional engagement strategies.

Citing writer, Khalil Gibran remarked that ‘work is love made visible,’ engagement gets work done, while fulfillment transforms that work into love made visible. He urged the new inductees to become active chapter members and to invest continuously in professional development through CIPM platforms such as the HR Leadership Academy, the CIPM and You Webinar Series, the International Conference and Exhibition, and other learning avenues.

The president also advised the inductees to identify mentors whose values and professional journeys they admire. Such guidance, he noted, remains crucial for shaping successful HR careers.

The guest lecture, delivered by Chief Consultant at Kingspride Consult Limited, Mr. Kayode Abe,

examined the gap between employee engagement and employee fulfillment. Abe described engagement as a positive attitude toward work and organisational values, while fulfillment is a deeper alignment between work and personal motivations that produces meaning and purpose.

He highlighted that an employee may be engaged without being fulfilled; however, a fulfilled employee is almost always highly engaged.

He added that weak workplace culture, poor compensation structures, and low belonging pose significant threats to retention.

He urged HR professionals to lead cultures rooted in acceptance, trust, inclusion, and shared purpose.

In his concluding remarks, Abe encouraged the inductees to choose the path of certified, forward-thinking professionals who drive visible transformation.

He noted that their induction places an obligation on them to help organisations transition from mere engagement to sustained fulfillment while nurturing cultures that value people and promote purpose.

The ceremony also honoured the Best Graduating Students from the 2025 examination diets. Ebenezer Sangokoya emerged as the Overall Best Graduating Student for the June 2025 diet. David Moses Eyo received the same honour for the September 2025 diet. Each awardee received N500,000 in cash and an all-expense-paid trip to the 58th CIPM International Conference and Exhibition in Abuja in 2026.