Former Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged human resource professionals and policymakers to use technology and data to empower people rather than control them, stressing the need for ethical responsibility in the rapidly changing world of work.
Osinbajo made the remarks on Saturday at the closing ceremony of the 57th International Conference and Exhibition of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) in Abuja. “Data should serve as a tool for empowerment, not control,” he said.
He highlighted the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the workplace and called for continuous reskilling and upskilling to match emerging opportunities. Osinbajo also emphasized the importance of mental health, empathy, and inclusive leadership as key drivers of productivity.
“The future of work will not be determined by technology alone, but by how organizations integrate human values into its deployment,” he said.
CIPM President Ahmed Gobir urged participants to apply lessons from the conference, themed “Reimagining the New World of Work,” in their workplaces to navigate rapid changes in the work environment.
Founded in 1968, CIPM is Nigeria’s leading professional body for human resource management and organizes the largest annual gathering of HR practitioners in West Africa, focusing on workforce development, leadership, and technology-driven workplace trends.