By Victor O. Okenini Esq
The venue of the 54th International Conference and Exhibitions of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria – Obi Wali International Conference Center, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, was a beehive of activities from 17th to 21st October 2022.
The Conference which had as its theme “Leading People: Growing Nations”, had in attendance civil and public servants, Members and Fellows of the Institute, captains of industries, traditional rulers, lawyers, bankers, engineers, human resource practitioners, among others.
Delivering his keynote address, the President and Chairman of the Governing Council, Mr Olusegun Mojeed, FCIPM, noted that the council has continued to play a key role in human and personnel management.
According to Mojeed, “The Institute (CIPM) is Nigeria’s apex regulatory Human Resource (HR) body empowered by legislation (Act 58 of 1922), to determine the standards of knowledge and skills to be attained by persons seeking to become registered as HR professionals/ practitioners.
“We raise the standards of practice, and from time to time, through deliberate efforts, enable effective and impactful people management and organizational development in associated areas”.
The Conference also paraded an array of speakers who delivered papers on impactful topics such as, ‘The shift to the People-centred Organizations: The Role and Responsibility of Leadership’ delivered by Olusegun Mojeed, FCIPM, President and Chairman of the Governing Council.
The topic ‘Driving Business Sustainability and National Development’ was delivered by Shakiru Lawal, MICPM, Country Human Resources Manager, Nestle Nigeria PLC.
Other topics of discussion included ‘Today’s Industrial Relations Landscape’, ‘Business Accountability, Corporate Governance and Reporting: Compliance with ESG Standards’, ‘Building Capabilities for a Successful HR Career’ among others.
Speaking at the event, the Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, who was ably represented by the Edo State Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa Esq. commended the Institute for the onerous task of raising the standards of HR practice from time to time and enabling effective and impactful people management and organizational development in associated areas in the past 54 years.
While noting his administration’s strides in human capacity building and other giant strides in Edo State, Obaseki hinted at his recent award as the Best Governor in the country by the Vanguard Newspaper.
According to Obaseki, “We have engaged in massive infrastructural renewal across the State. We are the first State in the entire country to conceive the idea of an upward review of minimum wage to N40,000 and its attendant increment of salaries in the State by over 33.3 percent.
“Today we have the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA), a public service academy established by this administration, which is the first of its kind in this clime. Our determination is to build capacity in our workforce and we are leveraging technology in achieving this, as the State today is completely run on e-governance, taking the lead among other States of the Federation”
Governor Obaseki was greeted by a rousing ovation by participants at the Conference, which was brought to a close by a gala night with the conferment of ‘Fellows’ Award on deserving persons.
Victor O Okenini Esq. is Director, Manpower Accounting, Directorate of Human Resources, Office of the Head of Service, Edo State
