The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) warned that unregulated adoption of artificial intelligence in workplaces could create ethical, social, and governance risks, during its third International Academic Conference held in partnership with the University of Lagos. The event brought together HR leaders, academics, and government representatives to examine how AI is reshaping employment, learning, and public administration.
Accountability and trust in AI deployment
CIPM President Mallam Ahmed Gobir said discussions must move beyond whether AI will transform society to how stakeholders can deploy it responsibly. He stressed that innovation without ethics and technology without accountability could undermine trust in organisations. "Algorithms do not build trust. People build trust. Machines do not create culture. People create culture," Gobir said, adding that organisational success continues to depend on people, not technology alone.
Africa's digital infrastructure gap
Prof. Sunday Adebisi, in his keynote, described AI as "the world's new infrastructure," already reshaping learning, production, and governance. However, he warned that Africa risks falling behind due to weak digital infrastructure, ICT skills gaps, regulatory uncertainty, and unequal access to technology. Failure to address these gaps, he said, could worsen unemployment and deepen inequality across the continent.
AI as a tool, not a replacement
Henry Onukuba, another keynote speaker, said the central challenge is integrating AI responsibly without eroding fairness, accountability, and public trust. He noted AI's potential to democratize education and help address faculty shortages. "AI will not take over your job. Your job will be taken over by someone who knows how to work smarter and more effectively with AI," Onukuba said.
Prof. Oluseyi Shadare, chairman of the conference and Head of Department of Employment Relations and Human Resource Management at the University of Lagos, said AI presents both opportunities and risks that require coordinated action from academia, industry, and government. While the technology can enhance productivity and innovation, it also raises concerns around job displacement, privacy, inequality, and governance.
Research and recognition
The conference recognised outstanding research contributions, with 38 full papers presented after a rigorous review of 47 submitted abstracts. Dr Aramide Kuforiji emerged as the overall best researcher, while Prof. Sam Bodunrin and Dr Ifeanyi Enukorah placed second and third, respectively.
Participants agreed that AI's long-term impact will depend on how effectively institutions balance innovation with ethics, accountability, and human-centred values.
Why this matters for HR professionals
The conference signals a clear mandate for HR leaders: building internal capacity to evaluate and govern AI tools is no longer optional. For HR managers tasked with deploying AI responsibly, structured learning pathways like the AI Learning Path for HR Managers provide practical guidance on ethical implementation and risk management.
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