As Africa positions itself for a new era of industrialisation, digitalisation and regional integration, experts argue that unlocking the full potential of the workforce is no longer optional: it is essential. This view was advanced during a high-level Human Resources HR leadership session at the African Forum for Talent Leadership in Finance, hosted jointly by the African Export-Import Bank Afreximbank and the Alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions AAMFI in Abuja.
The forum brought together leading HR professionals from across the continent to discuss the evolving expectations of human capital, its role in shaping business strategy and the imperative for HR to move beyond traditional administrative functions. The session featured distinguished speakers, including Pai Gamde, Chief Talent Officer at Coronation Group Allan Akoko, Group Director of Human Resources at the African Guarantee Fund AGF Constantine Wafula, Acting Head of HR at the East African Development Bank and Jatto Cyril, Head of Human Resources at Alpha Morgan Bank. The discussion was moderated by Peter Okwoche, Chief Executive Officer of AIT News 24.
'Relevance must be seen in measurable outcomes'Addressing the forum, Gamde emphasised that HR must evolve into a proactive, strategic partner within organisations: "HR should no longer wait to be invited to the table," he declared. "We must take our place as part of the system that drives business success. Our relevance must be seen in measurable outcomes, not just compliance." Gamde argued that the traditional perception of HR as primarily an administrative function, focused on payroll, leave management and compliance, limits the contribution of HR leaders to organisational growth.