HR leaders advocate culture reform, technology adoption

Convener of HRTalenthub.ng, Dr Omotola Dayo-Adedapo. | Credit: Web

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Human resource and business leaders have urged organisations to prioritise employee wellbeing, embrace purpose-driven technology, and adopt policies that enable both workers and employers to thrive.

This call was made at the 2025 HR Conference and Excellence Awards in Lagos.

According to the convener of HRTalenthub.ng, Dr Omotola Dayo-Adedapo, workplaces must urgently address emerging challenges such as toxic leadership, employee burnout, and declining mental wellbeing, especially within the current economic realities in Nigeria.

She said improving employee experience requires organisations to develop healthier cultures, recognise staff contributions, and ensure everyone feels valued and connected to the mission of the organisation.

She added that forums such as the conference help HR professionals learn global best practices, recognise excellence, and strengthen leadership capacity across industries.

Dayo-Adedapo urged organisations to continuously invest in talent development, engagement, and management, stating that empowered employees are key drivers of business success.

She said, “HR has a responsibility to help organisations improve culture, enhance leadership, support mental wellbeing, and ensure employees feel recognised, appreciated, and connected to the value they bring.

“The government must ensure policies remain favourable to both employers and employees. When businesses are able to thrive under supportive regulations, they can invest more in their people. Creating a business-friendly environment has a direct impact on the quality of work experience and employee wellbeing.”

Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor of Miva Open University, Professor Tayo Arulogun, said Nigeria will continue to struggle with unemployment despite a youthful population unless organisations cultivate talent rather than merely search for it.

He described Nigeria’s current challenge as a “talent paradox”, noting that although the country produces more than 500,000 graduates annually, businesses still struggle to find employable professionals: “You cannot recruit your way to excellence; you must cultivate it. The half-life of skills is now less than five years. Learning, adaptation, and growth must become an everyday rhythm, not an annual event.”

Arulogun argued that the organisations that will thrive are those with strong “talent DNA”, where excellence is embedded in culture, and leadership rewards curiosity, innovation, and continuous development. He outlined four pillars for future-ready workplaces: hiring for values and mindset, building learning into daily work, leaders acting as culture architects, and measuring progress using innovation-driven indicators.

He maintained that Nigeria’s competitiveness in the future: “will not come from natural resources but from the people we intentionally develop.”

Also speaking at the event, Group Chief Executive Officer of Tranter IT Infrastructure Services Limited, Dr Lare Ayoola, stressed that technology investments must be guided by a clear organisational purpose while enhancing staff wellbeing and customer satisfaction. He explained that leaders must genuinely connect with their teams, as performance suffers when employees do not feel cared for.

He added that the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence now demands immediate attention from HR leaders, warning that organisations that fail to ensure AI proficiency across their workforce may operate far below their competitive potential.

Oluwakemi is a Senior Correspondent with The PUNCH. She has over 10 years experience across digital and traditional journalism spheres, and currently covers the Capital Market.

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