Shell Nigeria boss tasks HR practitioners on enhanced knowledge
The Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor has tasked Human Resources (HR) practitioners to deepen their professional knowledge to tackle the disruptive demands of the ever-changing business environment.
Okunbor said this at a forum organised by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) in Lagos on Wednesday.
The Shell MD said the advice was critical because Human Resources took a central role to help organisations transit and prepare for technology and other disruptive business realities.
According to him, business realities are underpinned by volatility and uncertainty, therefore, organisations require the best degree of HR resilience to cope with happenings.
“Today’s business realities involve volatile and uncertain globalisation, inflation, war for talent, technology disruptions and artificial intelligence advancements.
“2023 and beyond demand a high level of HR innovation and disruption hence the need to rethink HR.
“This involves rethinking organisational culture and leadership, pushing boundaries to power organisational agility, acquire cross functional aptitude, unleash digitalisation, elevate HR decision science, prioritise inclusion and embrace perpetual work reinvention,” he said.
Okunbor also tasked HR professionals to align strategies with organisational goals and ensure that talents were properly managed and preserved to save the future of organisations and government. “What worries me the most is how much we spend training children abroad and talents exported with no plans of their coming back.
“If care is not taken, talent may become a big issue for us in the future in corporate organisations and even the government.
“HR professionals must begin to leverage data science to drive credible people outcomes,” he said.
President, CIPM, Mr Olusegun Mojeed, said the forum was organised to help the institute connect better with the business community in Nigeria.
“One major priority to me and the team is stakeholders engagement at various levels.
“We did our stakeholders mapping and realised that we needed to connect with business owners and leaders who employ people.
“As the leading people management institute, our core function does not end with just engaging our members and providing the needed professional support.
“It also involves connecting with people managers across board, especially those who may not necessarily be HR professionals,” Mojeed said.
Director-General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Malam Ibrahim Dasuki Arabi urged the CIPM on the professionalism and certification of the HR profession in the public sector across all levels- states and local government.
