Hello!

I recently had the privilege of attending the HREA Work Festival 2026, and it was truly one of those moments that leaves you both inspired and reflective.

I was honoured to speak on the panel “Who Owns Skills Development: HR, Leaders, or Employees?”

It was an honest, necessary, and at times uncomfortable conversation, the kind we need more of in our profession.

I shared reflections grounded in the reality that many employees face today: the growing expectation to upskill outside of working hours.

It raises an important question — is this always fair, and is it sustainable?

While I am deeply passionate about building capability within organisations, I strongly believe that skills development should be a shared responsibility.

It must be intentionally supported by both HR and leadership, not quietly shifted onto employees alone.

At the same time, I spoke about something equally important: personal accountability, because the truth is, not every system will support your growth in the way it should.

And in those moments, you must be willing to take ownership and create opportunities for yourself.

Key reflections from the session:

  • Skills development is most effective when it is a shared effort
  • Organisations must be intentional about building capability at every level
  • Access to learning should be equitable, structured, and supported
  • We need to rethink the expectation of learning outside working hours
  • Taking ownership of your growth can be transformational
  • Sometimes, you must build paths that don’t yet exist

One of the most special moments for me was being recognised with the Most Influential HR Award

It was a truly humbling experience, and one I am incredibly grateful for.

Recognition like this is never just individual. It reflects the community, the conversations, and the work we are all building together.

My sincere thanks to HREA for creating such a powerful platform, and to Erefa Coker, FCIPD, for curating such a thoughtful and impactful experience.

Beyond the panel, it was also a great opportunity to connect with so many Nigerian HR professionals, exchanging ideas, sharing experiences, and strengthening a growing global community.

Experiences like this remind me why spaces like BWHR matter.

Because when we come together, we don’t just share knowledge, we shift perspectives!