The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria has inducted 1,097 new members into the human resource profession, reiterating that HR practice in the country is a regulated profession that requires legal certification.

Speaking at the Institute’s 64th Induction Ceremony held in Lagos recently, the President and Chairman of the Governing Council, Ahmed Gobir, stressed that only certified professionals are permitted by law to practise HR in Nigeria.

“In accordance with the provisions of our enabling Act, CAP I15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, anyone practising human resource management in Nigeria without CIPM certification is in breach of statutory regulations,” he said.

Gobir noted that this regulation applies across all sectors, including public, private, and non-governmental organisations. He assured that the Institute would continue to uphold its mandate of professionalising and regulating HR practice in the country.

Gobir charged the new inductees to embrace their roles with a higher sense of purpose, saying, “You are now architects of workplace excellence, custodians of organisational culture, and guardians of business growth.”

He also highlighted the international relevance of CIPM certification, pointing to mutual recognition agreements with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development in the United Kingdom and the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources in Canada.

The induction ceremony, themed ‘Human Resource Management: Past, Present and Future’, also reflected on the evolution of the HR profession and its growing influence on organisational success.

The keynote speaker, Leslie George, delivered an address that drew on his vast industry experience to inspire the inductees, stating that “HR is not just about people; it’s about the power of people.”

CIPM said the event reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing compliance, enhancing professional standards, and shaping the future of HR practice in Nigeria.