CIPM rallies CEOs, HR leaders for business growth
Top executives from across Nigeria gathered in Lagos for the 2025 CEO/CHRO/HRD Forum organised by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), with a renewed call for stronger collaboration between CEOs and HR leaders to drive sustainable business growth. Held under the theme “Building Strategic Partnerships: The Roles of CEOs and HR in […]
Top executives from across Nigeria gathered in Lagos for the 2025 CEO/CHRO/HRD Forum organised by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), with a renewed call for stronger collaboration between CEOs and HR leaders to drive sustainable business growth.
Held under the theme “Building Strategic Partnerships: The Roles of CEOs and HR in Organisations,” the forum focused on fostering synergy between executive leadership and people strategy to meet the demands of today’s complex business environment.
In his opening address, President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CIPM, Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, described the CEO–HR relationship as fundamental to corporate success. “When leadership and people strategy hit the same rhythm, organisations do not just survive, they soar, scale, and set standards,” he said.
Gobir cited recent Deloitte research showing that while 70 percent of CEOs acknowledge the link between effective talent management and business success, only 30 percent engage HR leaders as strategic partners. He urged companies to close this gap, describing the current moment as a “call to dismantle silos and build symphonies of collaboration, creativity, and culture.”
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He also reaffirmed CIPM’s broader mandate, which includes shaping national policy, enforcing ethics within the HR profession, and building capacity to align Nigerian HR practices with global standards.
Managing Director of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Oyeyimika Adeboye, in his keynote address emphasised that sustained growth can only be achieved when CEOs and HR leaders function as true partners.
“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.”
The forum brought together business leaders, HR professionals, and policymakers who shared insights on leveraging executive synergy to navigate challenges, enhance productivity, and foster innovation in Nigerian organisations.