CIPM Abuja Hosts Annual Conference, Urges HR Professionals to Harness AI and Data-Driven Analytics
Abuja, Nigeria — The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), Abuja Branch, has called on Human Resources professionals to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data-driven analytics as critical tools for strategic decision-making in a rapidly changing business environment.
The call was made during the institute’s 25th Annual Conference, themed “HR Analytics in a VUCA World: Leveraging Data for Strategic Decision Making.” The annual gathering — a flagship event of the institute — drew a distinguished mix of seasoned HR professionals, policymakers, academics, and industry leaders from within and beyond Abuja for an intensive exchange of ideas and strategies on shaping the future of work.
In a brief chat with newsmen after the closing session, Daniel Afolabi expressed appreciation to his professional colleagues for their strong turnout at this year’s conference, noting that the robust participation reflected the commitment of HR practitioners to continuous learning and professional growth.
He commended the Abuja Branch members for their active engagement and willingness to embrace new ideas, describing them as “a community of forward-thinking professionals ready to shape the future of HR in Nigeria.”
Afolabi reaffirmed the branch’s dedication to sustaining high professional standards and advancing the influence of HR in both public and private sectors. “This conference is not the end of the conversation,” he said. “It is the beginning of a stronger push for innovation, ethical practice, and strategic leadership from the Abuja Branch of CIPM.”
In his keynote address, Abuja Branch Chairman Daniel Afolabi underscored that HR’s role has evolved far beyond recruitment, payroll, and employee relations. He emphasized that HR is now a strategic partner capable of influencing organizational direction through informed, evidence-based insights.
“The conversation here is about transformation,” Afolabi said. “We are looking at how HR managers can take raw data, analyze it, and convert it into strategic intelligence that informs boardroom discussions and influences top management decisions.”
From a management perspective, he made it clear that HR professionals must master the tools and methods that turn workforce metrics into executive-level narratives—shaping decisions in areas such as talent acquisition, succession planning, performance optimization, and employee engagement.
He explained that AI-powered analytics platforms enable HR leaders to forecast talent needs, improve employee engagement, predict workforce trends, and align human capital strategies with organizational goals.
Beyond technology, Afolabi stressed the urgent need for professionalization in HR practice, warning against unqualified practitioners. He reaffirmed that the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management is the only legally empowered body to certify HR professionals in Nigeria, ensuring quality standards across both the public and private sectors.
“We must distance ourselves from quackery,” he cautioned. “Professional certification is not optional—it is the foundation of credibility in our field.”
Professional certification is the bedrock of credibility in personnel management,” he reminded. “Without it, we risk undermining the standards that keep our organizations competitive and our profession respected.”
Throughout the conference, delegates participated in interactive sessions and case studies highlighting global best practices in analytics, ethical AI adoption, and workforce planning. Discussions reinforced the need for HR professionals to master tools that translate workforce data into strategies for leadership action.
In closing, the 25th Annual Conference of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, Abuja Branch, was more than a professional gathering — it was a statement of intent. Under the leadership of Chairman Daniel Afolabi, the branch reinforced its commitment to equipping HR professionals with the tools, ethics, and strategic vision needed to thrive in a VUCA world.
Speaking with newsmen after the final session, Afolabi thanked his colleagues for their active participation, describing the turnout as a testament to the dedication of Abuja’s HR community. “This is a community of forward-thinking professionals ready to lead change, not just adapt to it,” he said.
As the delegates departed, the message lingered: in the hands of skilled, certified, and data-driven professionals, HR is not simply an administrative department — it is the strategic engine that can power organizations through uncertainty into sustained growth.
Abuja Branch’s flagship event came to a close, the consensus was clear: HR’s future lies in blending data science with human insight. Under Afolabi’s leadership, CIPM Abuja is positioning its members to evolve from personnel managers who document the past into strategic leaders who forecast, plan, and shape the future of work.
