Human resources professional Banire Olayinka Sharafa has called for a major transformation in people management systems across Nigeria and the world, stressing the need to close the skills gap, improve workplace culture, and embrace ethical, data-driven HR practices.
Speaking in a valedictory address titled “From Problems to Resolutions — The HR Mandate for Nigeria and the World,” delivered on behalf of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria Executive Class of 2026, Sharafa said the HR profession is at a critical turning point globally.
He noted that organisations are increasingly struggling with talent shortages, workplace disengagement, rapid technological disruption, and rising employee burnout, adding that many systems are still relying on outdated approaches to manage modern workforce challenges.
Focusing on Nigeria, he highlighted persistent issues such as youth unemployment, skills mismatch, brain drain, and a large informal workforce that remains outside structured HR systems. He also pointed to concerns around recruitment practices, noting that competence is often overshadowed by personal connections in some cases.
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Sharafa outlined key resolutions adopted by the Executive Class, including a commitment to closing the skills gap through intentional talent development and stronger collaboration with educational institutions. He also emphasized the need to build workplaces that promote purpose, growth, flexibility, and employee wellbeing to improve retention.
In addition, he called for HR leadership driven by data, ethics, and dignity, stressing the importance of using analytics responsibly while protecting employee rights and ensuring fairness in workplace systems. He further advocated for the professionalization of HR practices across all sectors of the economy to support national productivity and inclusion.
He challenged HR professionals to take a more active role in strategic business decisions, warning against the continued use of outdated policies in a rapidly evolving work environment shaped by digital transformation and artificial intelligence.
Sharafa concluded that Nigeria’s future growth will depend on strong institutions and effective human capital development, noting that sustainable progress will come from transforming skills into productivity and productivity into national development.
He urged graduates of the Executive Class to return to their organisations as change agents committed to building workplaces defined by dignity, innovation, and excellence.
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