Lagos State has called on human resources executives to take a more active role in preparing Nigeria’s workforce for an economy increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. Speaking at the Special Human Resource Forum 2026 in Lagos, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said traditional approaches to managing employees would no longer be enough as technology continues to transform the workplace.
Sanwo-Olu challenged HR professionals to look beyond hiring and personnel administration by identifying the skills workers will need for the jobs of tomorrow. He stressed that HR leaders must understand where the future of work is heading and work closely with government and businesses to ensure Lagos develops the talent needed to strengthen its position as a technology and human-capital hub.
The warning comes at a time when AI and automation are rapidly changing industries such as banking, telecommunications and logistics. For Nigeria, which has a large and youthful population, the challenge is not simply adopting new technology but ensuring workers are equipped to benefit from it. Without proper training and reskilling, experts fear the gap between available jobs and workforce skills could widen.
President of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria’s Governing Council, Ahmed Gobir, said the success of AI should ultimately be measured by its impact on people. He argued that technological progress must create opportunities, improve living standards and reduce poverty rather than deepen inequality or leave workers behind. His comments underline the growing responsibility of HR professionals in making the transition to an AI-powered economy more inclusive.
Global AI and workforce specialist Erica Farmer also highlighted the enormous opportunity ahead, noting that artificial intelligence could potentially add up to $1tn to Africa’s GDP by 2035. However, she warned that economic potential alone would not guarantee prosperity. For Nigeria to truly benefit from the AI era, businesses, government and HR leaders will need to invest heavily in skills development and take workers along as technology reshapes the world of work.
source: punch
