File: Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu
Lagos State is urging human resources executives to take a lead role in restructuring Nigeria’s workforce for an artificial intelligence-driven economy, as rapid technological adoption redefines the skills needed across Africa’s largest metropolitan market.
Addressing business leaders at the Special Human Resource Forum 2026 in Lagos, Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, warned that traditional personnel management models are no longer sufficient to meet the demands of emerging labour markets.
“HR personnel cannot take the back seat. You really need to know what skills your staff require and where the future of work is going,” Sanwo-Olu said, emphasising that corporate talent managers must directly align with government strategies to establish Lagos as a regional hub for technology and human capital.
The push reflects growing concern across emerging economies over how to harness AI for productivity gains without exacerbating systemic unemployment or skill mismatches.
