By Emmanuel Ulebor
The Convener of the High-Impact Professionals Seminar (HIPS), Barr. Njuara Njama, has urged Nigerian professionals to take ownership of their career development while calling on organisations and government to create environments that encourage continuous learning and professional growth.
Speaking at the fourth edition of the High-Impact Professionals Seminar (HIPS), Njama described the event as a platform designed to equip professionals with clarity, leadership skills and practical strategies needed to thrive in today’s evolving workplace.
She explained that over the past four years, the seminar has continued to provide a forum for addressing workplace challenges, improving productivity and preparing African professionals to compete on the global stage.
“The High-Impact Professionals Seminar is a convergence of work professionals to discuss workplace issues that provide clarity for career people and organisations. Over the years, we have created conversations that help professionals lead better, remain visible, improve productivity and contribute meaningfully to their organisations and the nation,” she said.
According to Njama, one of the biggest challenges confronting career development today is the disconnect between employers and employees regarding responsibility for professional growth.
She noted that while many professionals expect organisations to invest in their development, employers also assume employees should independently acquire the skills needed to remain relevant.
“The current gap in career development is abandonment. Career professionals are waiting for their companies to help them develop, while organisations are waiting for individuals to develop themselves. Nobody is taking responsibility, and that is a major challenge,” she said.
She added that many professionals still regard career development programmes as unnecessary, while organisations often fail to create opportunities for employees to implement newly acquired knowledge.
Njama stressed that sustainable workplace transformation can only occur when individuals, employers and government work together to promote learning and innovation.
Calling for greater government involvement, she urged public institutions to move beyond policy statements by supporting initiatives that build human capital and strengthen the nation’s workforce.
“I always ask, ‘Why should I care about Nigeria?’ The answer should be because Nigeria cares about you. Government must go beyond lip service and intentionally support people through initiatives that promote growth and development,” she said.
She also explained that the seminar aims to help professionals gain clarity about their career paths while creating networking opportunities capable of producing mentorships, partnerships, business relationships and long-term collaborations.
“A successful outcome is for career people to receive clarity for their next step, build meaningful connections and ensure these conversations extend beyond this event to the global stage,” she added.
Also speaking at the event, leadership and personal development expert Oluseyi Ntaba Adepoju challenged participants to embrace self-motivation, discipline and continuous learning rather than depending solely on organisations for inspiration.
Adepoju, popularly known as the “Owner of the Power of Strength,” said lasting success begins with personal responsibility and a clear sense of purpose.
“My focus today is on how you can motivate yourself, not what an organisation is giving you to motivate you. Sustainable success starts from within,” he said.
He warned that progress cannot thrive in environments lacking direction, stressing that clarity remains the foundation of growth.
“You cannot systemise confusion. Clarity is the foundation of growth,” Adepoju stated as he introduced participants to his SCALE Model, which encourages individuals to remain clear about their purpose, align their actions, continue learning and execute with excellence.
He further encouraged professionals to deliberately seek opportunities that build capacity, noting that many people fail to take advantage of programmes capable of transforming their careers.
The fourth edition of the High-Impact Professionals Seminar brought together professionals, entrepreneurs, business leaders and career development experts to explore strategies for workplace excellence, leadership, productivity and positioning African talent for greater global opportunities
