Lagos to Build AI-Ready Workforce – Sanwo-Olu

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has called on Human Resource (HR) professionals to play a leading role in preparing Nigeria’s workforce for the rapidly evolving era of Artificial Intelligence (AI), stressing that human capital development will determine the country’s future competitiveness and economic growth.

Sanwo-Olu made the call at the 2026 Special Human Resource Forum (SHRF), organised by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM).

The governor described CIPM as a strategic partner in Lagos State’s vision of becoming a global hub for human capital development, noting that one of the pillars of the state’s long-term development agenda is to build a world-class workforce capable of thriving in an AI-driven economy.

According to him, achieving that goal requires strong collaboration between government and professional institutions responsible for developing the nation’s workforce.

“There is no way we can achieve that without a real partnership with institutes like CIPM,” Sanwo-Olu said.

He noted that HR professionals can no longer afford to remain passive as technological disruption continues to reshape workplaces, industries and economies, urging organisations to identify emerging skills early and equip employees for the future of work.

The governor also commended CIPM for its contributions to workforce development, revealing that many Lagos State civil servants have benefited from the institute’s professional certification and capacity-building programmes.

Speaking at the event, the President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CIPM, Ahmed Gobir, urged HR professionals to ensure that Artificial Intelligence becomes a tool for inclusive economic growth rather than one that widens inequality.

Addressing the forum themed, “People Policy and Performance in the Age of AI: HR Leadership for Economic Transformation and Poverty Reduction,” Gobir said the impact of AI would depend more on leadership and people-centred policies than on technology itself.

Also speaking, Global AI and Leadership Expert, Erica Farmer, advised organisations to place people at the centre of their AI strategies, warning that technology alone cannot guarantee economic growth or social progress.

She described Artificial Intelligence as “mass intelligence” and stressed that its full potential would only be realised through deliberate investment in workforce skills, leadership development and organisational readiness.