CIPM urges HR professionals to be stewards of transformation at 66th induction ceremony

The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) held its 66th Specialised Induction Ceremony, inducting administrators and HR staff of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) into the Institute.

Themed “Raising the Bar of Professional Standards: HR as a Steward of Transformation”, the event highlighted the pivotal role of Human Resource (HR) professionals in driving excellence and sustainable transformation within organisations and society. The ceremony formally inducted six Full Members and seventy-seven Associate Members into the Institute.

In his welcome address, Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, the President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CIPM, charged the new inductees to embrace their roles not just as HR practitioners but as “stewards of transformation.”

He stressed that the lapel pins and certificates received symbolised a professional and moral responsibility to remain committed to the highest standards of HR practice.

“Today, you are crossing from potential to professional,” Gobir said. “HR is not about pushing files; it is about stewarding destinies, igniting purpose, and transforming organisations. The true measure of HR is not in the policies you write, but in the lives you transform.”

He further urged the inductees to prepare for the future of work, citing World Economic Forum projections that 92 million jobs may be displaced by automation by 2030, while 170 million new roles will be created. According to him, HR professionals must take the lead in preparing people and organisations for such transitions.

Delivering the keynote address, Sabastine Okeke, FCIPM, Coordinator of Personnel Affairs at RCCG, spoke extensively on the historical evolution of professional bodies and the critical importance of professional standards. He noted that professional standards serve as the foundation of credibility, quality, and trust, and that higher standards lead to better performance, greater team motivation, and stronger results.

Okeke emphasised that HR professionals are no longer mere custodians of employment but must evolve into “stewards of the entire work experience”.

He outlined the essential capabilities of HR leaders in today’s rapidly changing world: business acumen, data literacy, effective communication, and change management expertise, emphasising that only by mastering these can HR professionals truly lead transformation.

“Raising the bar is not a one-time event but an ongoing process of reflection, recalibration, and re-creation,” he said. “The HR professional of today must not only align organisational culture with business goals but also ensure that technology, ethics, and humanity work together for sustainable impact.”

Also speaking, Vincent Adegborioye, the Chairman of the Conflict Resolution and Mediation Committee, FCIPM, who reechoed the President’s message, stating: “When spirituality merges with structure, the result will be outstanding.”

He encouraged inductees to leverage RCCG’s structure while upholding CIPM’s standards to elevate their HR careers.

The new inductees were urged to actively participate in RCCG Chapter and Ogun State Branch activities of the Institute, and to take advantage of the newly launched CIPM HR Leadership Academy to hone their skills.

The President also encouraged them to register and attend the 57th International Conference and Exhibition of the Institute, scheduled for October 27–30, 2025, at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja.

With this induction, CIPM reaffirmed its commitment to raising the bar of HR practice in all sectors of the economy. By embedding global best practices, strengthening ethics, and equipping HR professionals with strategic leadership skills, the Institute continues to drive its mandate of professionalising human resource management as a cornerstone for national development.