The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) celebrated excellence in people management as it honoured outstanding organisations at the 2026 HR Oscars, one of the major highlights of the 58th International Conference and Exhibition (#CIPMICE2026), held in Abuja. The awards recognised organisations that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to innovative human resource practices, workforce transformation, inclusion, employee engagement and business impact.
Representatives of VFS Global receive the Overall HR Best Practice Award (Large Organisation Category) from the President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CIPM, Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, FCIPM, fnli, during the 2026 HR Oscars held as part of the 58th International Conference and Exhibition of CIPM (#CIPMICE2026) in Abuja, Nigeria.
The President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CIPM, Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, FCIPM, fnli, presents the Overall HR Best Practice Award (Medium Organisation Category) to representatives of Avetium Outsourcing during the 2026 HR Oscars, held as part of the 58th International Conference and Exhibition of CIPM (#CIPMICE2026) in Abuja, Nigeria.
The President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CIPM, Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, FCIPM, fnli, presenting an HR Oscars award during the 2026 HR Oscars, held as part of the 58th International Conference and Exhibition (#CIPMICE2026) of CIPM in Abuja, Nigeria.
The Vice President of CIPM, Mrs. Chidinma Justina Obiejesi, FCIPM, presenting an HR Oscars award during the 2026 HR Oscars, held as part of the 58th International Conference and Exhibition (#CIPMICE2026) of CIPM in Abuja, Nigeria.
The 2026 edition recorded its highest participation yet, underscoring the growing importance organisations attach to strategic people management. A total of 71 organisations submitted entries, while 56 organisations successfully underwent rigorous assessment, a significant increase from the 20 assessed applications recorded in 2025.
CIPM established the HR Oscars to identify, recognise, and reward best-in-class human resource management practices. The assessment process focuses on demonstrated business impact arising from HR initiatives, programme improvements and organisational transformation efforts, all validated by CIPM-accredited assessors.
The awards, which have become one of the most respected recognitions in Nigeria’s HR ecosystem, featured three broad categories: the HR Best Practice Awards, HR Optimisation Awards, and HR Inclusion Awards, each designed to spotlight organisations that are raising the bar in people management and organisational effectiveness.
This year’s edition also marked a significant expansion of the awards framework, with entries classified across organisational categories including large corporations, medium-sized organisations, small businesses, not-for-profit organisations and public sector institutions. Organisations competed against a benchmark score of 80 per cent and above, reflecting the Institute’s commitment to maintaining high standards of excellence.
The spotlight shone brightest during the presentation of the Overall HR Best Practice Awards, where organisations that have set the benchmark for HR excellence received the Institute’s highest recognition.
In the Large Organisation Category, VFS Global emerged Overall Winner, while Avetium Outsourcing clinched the top position in the Medium Organisation Category. Their recognition reflects outstanding commitment to embedding best-in-class HR practices, driving organisational performance and delivering measurable business impact through strategic people management.
A standout feature of the awards was the HR Inclusion Award, implemented in collaboration with Sightsavers, which recognises organisations promoting disability-confident workplaces and advancing inclusion within the labour market. In the organisational category, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc emerged as the winner with a score of 90 per cent, outperforming other nominees and earning recognition for its commitment to disability inclusion and workplace accessibility.
Across the HR Optimisation Award categories, several organisations distinguished themselves through innovative initiatives that delivered measurable business and people outcomes. Fidson Health Group and Nestlé Nigeria Plc were recognised in the Strategic HR Initiative category, both achieving outstanding scores of 100 per cent, demonstrating how strategic HR can drive business growth and organisational performance.
In the area of Talent Development, multiple organisations achieved perfect scores and emerged winners, including Pladis Foods, Sundry Foods, Nigerian Bottling Company and VFS Global, reflecting the increasing focus organisations are placing on building future-ready workforces and strengthening leadership pipelines.
The commitment to employee-centred workplaces was equally evident in the Employee Engagement, Experience and Internal Communication category, where Mouka, Cadbury Nigeria, Fidson Health Group, Nigerian Bottling Company, VFS Global and First HoldCo Plc all secured winning positions with exceptional scores. Their recognition highlights the growing understanding among employers that employee experience is a critical driver of productivity, retention and organisational success.
The awards also showcased excellence in specialised HR functions. Cadbury Nigeria Plc won the Talent Acquisition Initiative Award, while Mouka emerged as the winner in the Employee and Industrial Relations Initiative category. Egbin Power Plc claimed top honours in Business Continuity Management, and Nigerian Bottling Company and Fidson Health Group were recognised for outstanding performance in Diversity and Inclusion.
Technology-driven workforce transformation also featured prominently among the winners. Sundry Foods, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Nestlé Nigeria Plc and VFS Global were recognised in the Adoption of Technology (Digital HR/SMAC Tech) category, highlighting the increasing role of digital innovation in reshaping the future of work and enhancing employee productivity.
The awards further recognised excellence among emerging and mid-sized organisations. Lagos Business School won the Talent Development Initiative category in one of the competition classes, while CWG Plc secured honours across multiple categories, including Compensation, Rewards and Recognition, Employee Engagement, Experience and Internal Communication, and Talent Acquisition. The PUNCH was recognised for excellence in Organisational Development and Change Management, reflecting the diversity and quality of HR practice across sectors.
The awards are a powerful affirmation of the strategic value HR professionals bring to organisations. Beyond recognising outstanding initiatives, the awards have become a benchmark for measuring excellence, innovation and business impact across Nigeria’s corporate landscape.
As organisations continue to navigate a rapidly changing business environment, the 2026 HR Oscars reinforced a simple but powerful message: organisations that invest in people, embrace inclusion, foster innovation and align HR strategy with business objectives are best positioned to succeed in the future of work. The award winners emerged not only as recipients of trophies, but as examples of what is possible when people management is treated as a strategic imperative rather than a support function.
