Benson Idahosa University has emerged as the overall winner of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) 2026 Inter-Tertiary Quiz Competition, following an exciting national finale that brought together six universities representing Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Godfrey Okoye University secured second place, while the Federal University of Technology, Dutse, finished third in the keenly contested competition.
As a reward for their exceptional performance, the representatives of the three winning institutions will be invited by CIPM to attend the 58th International Conference and Exhibition (ICE) on an all-expense-paid trip.
The conference, scheduled to hold from September 21 to 24, 2026, in Abuja, will provide the students with a unique opportunity to engage with leading HR professionals, business executives, and thought leaders while gaining valuable insights into emerging trends shaping the future of work.
The representatives of the winning institutions are Erike Etchie Oritseshemaye and Unuga Vwaire of Benson Idahosa University; Ekwe Princess Chinyere and Success Awele Amolo of Godfrey Okoye University; and Owolarafe Fatimah Oluwadamilola and Daniel T. Williams of the Federal University of Technology, Dutse.
Speaking on the significance of the competition, the President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CIPM, Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, FCIPM, fnli, commended the students for their outstanding performance and the spirit of healthy competition they displayed throughout the contest. He said the initiative is designed to stimulate students’ interest in the human resource profession while promoting academic excellence, critical thinking, and professional development among undergraduates.
According to him, the competition forms part of the Institute’s broader commitment to nurturing the next generation of HR professionals by providing students with opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge, sharpen their analytical skills, and gain early exposure to the evolving world of work.
The national finale marked the culmination of a rigorous competition that began with 43 tertiary institutions drawn from across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. The institutions competed at the regional level, with the winning institution from each geopolitical zone progressing to the national championship.
The six institutions that qualified for the national finale were Chrisland University (South-West), Godfrey Okoye University (South-East), Benson Idahosa University (South-South), Federal University Lokoja (North-Central), Federal University of Technology, Dutse (North-West), and Kwararafa University, Wukari (North-East).
Open to undergraduate students studying Human Resource Management, Management Sciences, and Social Sciences, the CIPM 2026 Inter-Tertiary Institutions Quiz Competition also seeks to strengthen the relationship between academia and professional practice by encouraging students to embrace excellence and prepare for careers in people management.
By rewarding the top-performing institutions with participation in the Institute’s flagship International Conference and Exhibition, CIPM continues to expose outstanding students to contemporary HR practice, thought leadership, emerging workplace trends, and valuable networking opportunities with business leaders and HR professionals from across Nigeria and beyond.
The CIPM 2026 Inter-Tertiary Quiz Competition underscores the Institute’s unwavering commitment to developing future-ready professionals and advancing excellence in human resource management through education, innovation, and strategic engagement with tertiary institutions.
