By Benson Daniel
Lagos State has urged human resource executives to take a leading role in preparing Nigeria’s workforce for an increasingly artificial intelligence driven economy, warning that organisations can no longer rely on traditional approaches to managing people and skills.
The call was made as the state emphasised the importance of human capital development in determining Nigeria’s future competitiveness, productivity and economic growth.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo Olu, said HR professionals must move beyond routine personnel management and become active participants in identifying emerging skills, preparing employees for technological changes and shaping the future of work.
He said the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence was already transforming workplaces and industries, making it necessary for organisations to understand the skills that would be required in the coming years.
According to the governor, HR executives cannot afford to remain passive while technology changes the nature of jobs and the way businesses operate. He stressed that organisations need to anticipate changes rather than wait until existing skills become obsolete.
The development is particularly important for Nigeria, where a large young workforce is entering an economy increasingly influenced by automation, digital services and artificial intelligence.
While AI is expected to improve productivity and create new opportunities, it could also widen existing skills gaps if workers are not adequately prepared. Businesses therefore face the challenge of ensuring that employees acquire the technical and human skills needed to work effectively alongside emerging technologies.
The governor said Lagos is committed to developing a world class workforce capable of competing in a technology driven global economy. He also highlighted the importance of partnerships between government and professional institutions in achieving the objective.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management has been identified as an important partner in workforce development, with the institute providing professional training and capacity building for HR practitioners and workers.
At the forum, CIPM President and Chairman of the Governing Council, Ahmed Gobir, urged HR professionals to ensure that AI becomes a tool for inclusive economic growth rather than a factor that deepens inequality.
Gobir said the impact of AI would depend not only on the technology itself but also on the quality of leadership and people centred policies guiding its adoption.
He stressed the need for organisations to place employees at the centre of their AI strategies by investing in training, leadership development and workforce readiness.
For businesses, preparing employees for AI could involve reskilling and upskilling workers, redesigning job roles and introducing new approaches to performance management.
Rather than viewing AI solely as a replacement for human labour, organisations can use the technology to automate repetitive tasks while allowing employees to focus on areas requiring creativity, judgement, problem solving and interpersonal skills.
Experts have increasingly emphasised the importance of this human and technology partnership as businesses seek to capture productivity gains without losing valuable institutional knowledge and human expertise.
For Nigeria, effective workforce preparation could help businesses take advantage of AI while reducing the risk of widespread skills displacement.
The issue is also important for Lagos because of the state’s position as a major centre for business, technology and financial services. A workforce equipped with relevant digital and professional skills could strengthen the state’s attractiveness to investors and support the development of technology driven businesses.
The government and private sector will therefore need to work together to expand access to quality training and ensure that workers are prepared for emerging opportunities.
As AI adoption accelerates, HR executives are increasingly being positioned as strategic leaders responsible not only for hiring and managing employees but also for helping organisations navigate technological transformation.
Lagos’ call reflects a broader shift in the role of human resources, with workforce strategy becoming an important part of business competitiveness in the AI era.
Leave a comment