The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) has called on entrepreneurs and human resource professionals to prioritise collaboration as a survival strategy in the country’s challenging business climate.
At the institute’s Corporate Membership Forum held on Wednesday, CIPM President, Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, said the high mortality rate of small businesses in Nigeria—many of which collapse within their first five years—stems largely from a culture of isolation rather than partnership.
“Nigeria has the people, the talent, and the resources to build successful enterprises,” Gobir stated. “But sustainability without collaboration is like cooking jollof rice without pepper—it will be tasteless. Businesses must work together through joint ventures, supply chain integration, or shared talent pipelines to thrive in this terrain.”
Gobir noted that while the country’s economic environment is tough, opportunities abound for those willing to engage in structured partnerships. He urged HR professionals to drive collaboration at multiple levels—within businesses, between industries, and across public and private sectors—so as to unlock growth.
Delivering the keynote address, Mrs. Lilian Somiari, General Manager of HR, Strategy, Organisation and Performance at Total Energies EP Nigeria Ltd, echoed the message, stressing that collaboration has become a non-negotiable requirement for business relevance in today’s world.
“Sustainability is no longer optional—it is a key imperative,” she said. “For an organisation to be sustainable, it must be prepared to reach out to others with a shared vision. Many countries now refuse to engage with companies that do not align with their sustainability goals.”
Somiari further explained that collaboration must begin internally before it can be pursued externally. “It has to be intentional and strategic. Organisations that fail to master internal collaboration will struggle to form meaningful partnerships outside,” she warned.
The forum, which drew corporate leaders and HR practitioners from across sectors, underscored a growing recognition that in Nigeria’s competitive business landscape, collaboration is no longer a choice but a currency for survival and long-term growth.
