By Clifford Ejenavi
The Human Resources Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Dr. Zino Ugboma, has been recognised as Personality of the Month by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), in recognition of his contributions to human resource development, workplace excellence and professional leadership.
The recognition highlights what the institute described as a commitment to advancing best practices in people management, workplace professionalism and institutional growth through effective leadership.
According to CIPM, the Personality of the Month recognition is reserved for professionals who have demonstrated leadership, innovation and measurable impact in advancing human resource management in Nigeria.
For Ugboma, however, the honour reflects a professional journey shaped by service, humility and a people-centred approach to leadership.
A lawyer, law teacher, public administrator, human resource professional and farmer, Ugboma currently serves as Director of Human Resources at NELFUND, where he has contributed to workforce development and institutional growth within the education financing agency.
Reflecting on the experiences that shaped his leadership philosophy, he said two moments particularly influenced his thinking about leadership and responsibility.
The first, he explained, was the example of Jesus Christ washing the feet of His disciples, which reinforced for him the idea that leadership is rooted in service rather than authority.
The second came through an experience shared by his father involving an encounter with a judge in an American courtroom in the late 1960s, where humility and simplicity challenged assumptions about power and status.
“Leadership is actually about serving and not necessarily about being served,” Ugboma said, noting that the lessons continue to shape his approach to leadership and decision-making.
Speaking on the future of human resource practice, he stressed the need for organisations and HR professionals to move beyond excessive dependence on certifications alone when identifying talent.
While acknowledging the importance of qualifications, he advocated greater emphasis on values such as competence, morality, honesty, innovation and character in building sustainable institutions and effective workforces.
The recognition comes at a period of renewed focus on the professionalisation of human resource practice across the public sector, with CIPM continuing to champion ethical standards, competence and continuous learning in workplaces.
The award also reflects growing collaboration between NELFUND and CIPM in promoting human capital development and workforce readiness, reinforcing efforts aimed at strengthening institutional excellence and national development.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.