CIPM advocates responsible AI adoption, ethical governance
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) has called for the responsible adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI), urging organisations, policymakers and academic institutions to balance innovation with ethics, accountability and human-centred values as the technology continues to transform the world of work. The call was made during the third International Academic Conference organised […]
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) has called for the responsible adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI), urging organisations, policymakers and academic institutions to balance innovation with ethics, accountability and human-centred values as the technology continues to transform the world of work.
The call was made during the third International Academic Conference organised by the institute in collaboration with the Department of Employment Relations and Human Resource Management, University of Lagos, under the theme, “Artificial Intelligence in Academia, Industry and Government: Navigating Ethics, Innovation and Impact.”
Speaking at the conference, President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CIPM, Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, said discussions around AI should move beyond whether the technology will transform society to how stakeholders can shape that transformation responsibly.
According to him, innovation without ethics and technology without accountability pose significant risks, making it imperative for institutions and organisations to ensure that fairness, transparency, inclusion, responsibility and respect for human dignity remain central to AI deployment.
Gobir stressed that despite rapid advances in technology, people remain the most important asset of every successful organisation.
“Algorithms do not build trust. People build trust. Machines do not create culture. People create culture,” he said.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Sunday Adebisi described AI as “the world’s new infrastructure,” noting that it has evolved beyond being a workplace tool into a force shaping education, governance, production and communication.
While highlighting the immense opportunities AI presents, Adebisi warned that Africa faces several obstacles that could hinder its ability to fully harness the technology. These include inadequate digital infrastructure, shortages in ICT skills, regulatory gaps, ethical concerns and unequal access to technology.
Another keynote speaker, Mr. Henry Onukuba, described AI as one of the most transformative innovations of the modern era, capable of revolutionising productivity, service delivery and access to information.
Onukuba said AI has the potential to democratise access to education by bridging information gaps and providing learners in remote communities with access to the same knowledge resources available in urban centres.
He further noted that AI-powered learning environments could help address faculty shortages in Nigerian universities and improve educational outcomes.
“AI will not take over your job. Your job will be taken over by someone who knows how to work smarter and more effectively with AI,” he said.
Chairman of the Academic Conference and Head of the Department of Employment Relations and Human Resource Management, University of Lagos, Professor Oluseyi Shadare, described the conference theme as both timely and relevant in view of the rapid technological changes associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
According to him, while AI is creating opportunities for innovation, competitiveness and knowledge creation, it is also raising concerns about job displacement, privacy, inequality and the ethical use of emerging technologies.
Representing the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, the Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences, Professor Abdul-Hameed Sulaimon, commended CIPM and the Department of Employment Relations and Human Resource Management for organising the conference.
He urged participants to apply the knowledge and insights gained from the event in their organisations and institutions to drive sustainable development and innovation.
The conference also recognised outstanding research contributions from scholars and researchers. Out of 47 abstracts submitted for consideration, 38 papers advanced to the full presentation stage following a rigorous review process.
At the end of the exercise, Dr. Aramide Kuforiji emerged as the overall best researcher, while Professor Sam Bodunrin and Dr. Ifeanyi Enukorah secured second and third positions respectively.