Labour Minister to Chair Conference as Caleb University Announces National Dialogue on HR, Business Growth
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, will chair the conference as Caleb University has announced plans to host a national dialogue on Human Resource (HR) and business growth.
Similarly, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, will serve as the Special Guest of Honour.
The event, themed “Reimagining HR for Business Resilience and Growth: Leading Nigeria’s Workforce Through Disruption and Innovation,” will convene Chief Human Resource Officers, HR Directors, HR leaders, CEOs and industry leaders from across Nigeria and beyond for a transformative discourse at the Marriott Hotel, Lagos, on July 21, 2026.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Olalekan Asikhia, made the disclosure during a press conference held at the institution’s College of Law in Lagos on July 7.
Prof. Asikhia described the HR Space Conference 2026 as a landmark one-day gathering of Nigeria’s foremost human resource and business leaders.
He stated that the conference comes at a critical time, stressing that Nigeria’s workforce is navigating pressing challenges, including rising inflation, widening talent gaps, and the disruptive impact of artificial intelligence.
“Yet, within these challenges lie opportunities for resilience, innovation, and sustainable growth.,” he said. “HR leaders must be at the forefront of shaping strategies that prepare our organisations and our nation for the future of work.”
Asikhia disclosed that the programme will be hosted in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), the University of Cambridge, UK, and the University of Greater Manchester, UK.
He stated that the partnerships highlight the university’s commitment to positioning Nigerian HR practices in line with global best practices.
The programme will also feature notable guest speakers, including the Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank Plc, the President of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), and the President of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN).
It will equally feature two distinguished international scholars, Jens R. Jenssen and Prof. Christian Harrison.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, Mr. Jenssen is a Fellow and Senior Researcher at the Centre for International Human Resource Management, University of Cambridge.
He noted that Jenssen brings decades of expertise in global HR strategy, workforce resilience, and comparative HR systems, offering insights that will enrich the conference discussions with international perspectives.
Similarly, Harrison is a Professor of Leadership and Enterprise at the University of Greater Manchester, UK.
Asikhia disclosed that Prof. Harrison is widely recognised for his pioneering work in leadership, innovation and enterprise development and will share thought-provoking ideas on how HR can drive organisational transformation in disruptive times.
He further stated that, through keynote sessions, industry-academia roundtables and panel discussions, participants will engage in practical strategies for building future-ready talent pipelines through reskilling and upskilling; leveraging data-driven HR analytics to drive business outcomes; addressing workforce flexibility, hybrid work and employee engagement; as well as strengthening academia-industry collaboration for sustainable growth.
He added that, at the conclusion of the programme, participants will adopt “The HR Leader’s Action Agenda for 2026 and Beyond,” describing it as a resolution outlining actionable strategies to transform Nigerian businesses and strengthen the nation’s workforce for the future.
