CIPM Forum spotlights CEO–HR collaboration as catalyst for sustainable growth

The CEOs, Chief Human Resources Officers (CHROs), and HR Directors from across Nigeria converged for the 2025 CEO/CHRO/HRD Forum, themed “Building Strategic Partnerships: The Roles of CEOs and HR in Organisations.”

Convened by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), the gathering spotlighted the critical nexus between executive leadership and people strategy as the bedrock of sustainable growth.

In his opening address, Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, President and Chairman of the Governing Council, CIPM, stressed that the CEO–HR partnership is no longer optional but fundamental. “When leadership and people strategy hit the same rhythm, organisations do not just survive, they soar, scale, and set standards,” he declared, urging attendees to tear down silos and forge “symphonies of collaboration, creativity, and culture.”

Highlighting a recent Deloitte finding that 70 percent of CEOs link business success to effective talent management, yet only 30 percent actively engage HR as strategic partners, Mallam Gobir challenged both camps to close the gap.

He reminded participants that CIPM’s mandate extends beyond certification to shaping national policy, enforcing professional ethics, and driving capacitybuilding to ensure that Nigerian HR practices meet global standards. As such, the institute will continue to advocate for robust partnerships at the top.

Delivering the keynote address, Oyeyimika Adeboye, the Managing Director of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, translated theory into practice by emphasizing the transformative power of synergy between CEOs and HRDs.

“To CEOs, I say, your vision is the compass. Your leadership in fostering partnership determines the journey,” she said. “When the CEO and the HR Director act as trusted partners, they send a powerful message to the business: performance and growth are everyone’s responsibility.”

She described HR as “the indispensable strategic partner translating vision into people-centric execution and value creation,” and urged HR leaders to rise beyond traditional tasks like payroll and compliance to crafting clear career pathways.

The guest speaker concluded by noting that the modern workplace demands a “new kind of leadership alliance.”

According to her, “The CEO provides strategic direction and authority, while the HR Director orchestrates the people and change management dimensions, ensuring buy-in at all levels. Your competitive advantage lies in the success of that partnership.”

As organisations navigate increasingly complex market dynamics, the 2025 CEO/CHRO/HRD Forum made one truth clear: the future of work and business success will be shaped not by isolated leadership but by collaborative, strategic partnerships at the very top.