CIPM unveils milestones in membership growth, digital innovation at 57th AGM

Michael Ewomazino Ogu, Elected Council Member, CIPM; Chidinma Justina Obiejesi, FCIPM, Vice President, CIPM; Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, President and Chairman of the Governing Council, CIPM; Adeyemi Ajayi, National Treasurer, CIPM; and Sean Olabode Badiru, Elected Council Member, CIPM, during their oath-taking at the CIPM 57th Annual General Meeting (AGM), held recently in Lagos, Nigeria.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) has re-elected its President and Chairman of the Governing Council, Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, FCIPM, fnli, for another term, as the institute announced significant milestones in membership growth, digital transformation, and regulatory enforcement at its 57th Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Mallam Gobir secured a total of 2,784 votes to retain his position, while
Chidinma Justina Obiejesi, the Vice President, was also re-elected with 1,469 votes.

The AGM also saw the emergence of Adeyemi Ajayi, Chartered FCIPD, as National Treasurer, polling 1,785 votes.
Several members of the Governing Council were returned to office, including Sean Olabode Badiru, MCIPM (2,334 votes), Sa’adatu Asabe Faruk, MCIPM (2,279), Michael Ewomazino Ogu, MCIPM (1,992), and Comrade Osahon Omole, MCIPM (1,750).

In addition, Sabastine Okeke, was elected as a new Council Member with 1,698 votes.

Presenting his scorecard to members, Mallam Gobir highlighted major achievements recorded by the Institute during the year under review, including unprecedented membership growth, digital transformation, stronger regulatory enforcement, and increased global recognition.

According to him, inducted membership rose from about 1,700 in 2023 to over 3,000 in 2025, while total membership grew to 27,000. The CIPM President attributed the growth to deliberate efforts aimed at strengthening professionalism and expanding the Institute’s reach across the country.

He said the Institute intensified efforts to enforce professional standards through regulatory advocacy, public sensitisation campaigns, delisting exercises, professional compliance initiatives, and strategic engagement with government institutions.

One of the major highlights of the administration, according to Mallam Gobir, was the accelerated digital transformation of the Institute. He disclosed that several technology-driven platforms were successfully deployed during the period, including a new examination portal, membership application portal, e-voting platform, upgraded members’ portal, learning and conference portal, Human Resource Practitioners License (HRPL) portal, CIPM mobile application, and the integration of the Body of Competence and Knowledge framework.

Beyond Nigeria, he said the Institute continued to strengthen its global footprint through strategic collaborations with leading international professional bodies, including the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) in the United Kingdom, Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR) Canada, the African Human Resources Confederation (AHRC), and the World Federation of People Management Associations (WFPMA).

The partnerships, he noted, have created additional opportunities for members while enhancing the Institute’s international profile.

Reflecting on the Institute’s progress, Mallam Gobir said the achievements recorded over the past year demonstrate an organisation committed to innovation, growth, and professional excellence.

“When future generations look back at this period in our history, they will see an institute that chose progress over complacency, innovation over tradition, growth over stagnation, and courage over comfort,” he said.

Members who spoke during the AGM commended the leadership team and Governing Council for what they described as a successful year of institutional growth and visibility.

Several members particularly praised the increased media visibility achieved by the Institute, noting that it has helped reinforce CIPM’s position as the statutory regulatory body for human resource management practice in Nigeria and encouraged more HR practitioners to seek certification.

The members also lauded the Institute’s mutual recognition arrangements with CPHR Canada and CIPD UK, describing the partnerships as beneficial to Nigerian HR professionals seeking global career opportunities.

They urged the Institute to sustain its advocacy efforts towards ensuring that human resource practitioners in Nigeria obtain professional certification and comply with established regulatory standards.

The AGM ended with renewed confidence in the Institute’s future direction, as members expressed support for the leadership’s commitment to strengthening professionalism, deepening regulatory compliance, advancing digital innovation, and positioning Nigerian HR practice on the global stage.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.