The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) has urged business leaders to move beyond treating diversity and inclusion as corporate policies and instead embed them as measurable drivers of innovation, productivity and sustainable organisational growth. The call was made during the Institute’s 2026 CEO/CHRO/HRD Forum held in Lagos with the theme, “Refocusing Diversity and Inclusion in the Organisation: The CEO and HR’s Perspectives.” The event brought together chief executive officers, chief human resource officers, human resource directors and other senior executives to examine how leadership can foster inclusive, high-performing workplaces. Speaking at the forum, President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CIPM, Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, said meaningful organisational transformation begins with leadership, stressing that diversity and inclusion can only succeed when leaders deliberately champion them. He noted that organisations with diverse leadership teams consistently make better decisions, encourage innovation and deliver stronger business outcomes because they benefit from a wider range of perspectives and experiences. Gobir, however, emphasised that diversity should never come at the expense of competence, insisting that merit must remain the foundation for building inclusive organisations. According to him, businesses become more resilient, innovative and sustainable when diversity and excellence work together. Delivering the goodwill message of Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Permanent Secretary, Public Service Office, Mrs. Sunkanmi Olasunkanmi Oyegbola, challenged organisations to assess diversity and inclusion based on measurable outcomes rather than the existence of policies or committees. She observed that organisations that intentionally remove barriers and expand opportunities consistently outperform those that fail to prioritise inclusion. In his keynote address, Managing Director of FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc, Mr. Roger Philippe Adou, described diversity and inclusion as a business imperative supported by strong leadership commitment, accountability and clear organisational policies. He said diverse teams produce better innovation and stronger decision-making because they bring different perspectives to solving business challenges. Adou explained that FrieslandCampina WAMCO deliberately promotes gender balance, regional representation and psychological safety to ensure employees can contribute freely while supporting better business decisions across Nigeria’s diverse markets. Also speaking, Director-General of the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Dr. Funke Adepoju, urged organisations to move beyond representation towards creating workplaces where employees genuinely feel they belong.
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