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By Chinyere Anyanwu
Caleb University has declared its commitment to equipping Human Resource (HR) practitioners and journalists with knowledge that will enable them to remain relevant and progressive in the current digital age of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
This was revealed yesterday by the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Olalekan Asikhia, during a press conference to announce its forthcoming programmes, HR Space 2026 and Journalism Outlook Conference 2026.
According to Prof. Asikhia, the HR Space 2026 programme with the theme, “Reimagining HR for Business Resilience and Growth: Leading Nigeria’s Workforce Through Disruption and Innovation”, will focus on empowering HR leaders to be at the forefront of shaping strategies that prepare organisations and the country for the future of work.
The HR Space 2026, he said, will hold on July 21, 2026, at the Marriott Hotel, Lagos, and will convene chief human resource officers, HR directors, HR leaders, CEOs and industry leaders from across Nigeria and beyond.
Prof. Asikhia said, “this conference comes at a critical time. Nigeria’s workforce is navigating pressing challenges — rising inflation, widening talent gaps, and the disruptive impact of artificial intelligence. Yet, within these challenges lie opportunities for resilience, innovation and sustainable growth.”
The Caleb University VC noted that the programme aims to ensure that “participants adopt ‘The HR Leader’s Action Agenda for 2026 and Beyond’ — a resolution outlining actionable strategies to transform Nigerian businesses and strengthen our workforce for the future.”
The conference, he said, will be chaired by Alhaji Muhammadu Dingyadi, Minister of Labour and Employment, while the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, will be the Special Guest of Honour. Other notable guest speakers at the event will include the Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank Plc, the President of Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), and the President of Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN).
Other dignitaries expected at the event are international scholars,
Jens R. Jenssen, a Fellow and Senior Researcher at the Centre for International Human Resource Management, University of Cambridge, and Prof. Christian Harrison, Professor of Leadership & Enterprise at the University of Greater Manchester, UK.
For this programme, Caleb University is in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), the University of Cambridge, UK, and the University of Greater Manchester, UK.
Asikhia stated that the Journalism Outlook Conference 2026 themed, “Reinventing Local Newspapers in the Digital Age: Innovation, Sustainability, and Global Community Impact,” will take place on Monday, July 20, 2026, at Caleb University, Imota, Lagos.
He said, “this conference comes at a pivotal moment. Local newspapers, once the heartbeat of community engagement, now face unprecedented challenges in the digital era. Yet, these challenges also present opportunities for reinvention, innovation, and global relevance. Our goal is to provide a robust platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and actionable insights that will strengthen the sustainability of Nigerian journalism.
“At the conclusion of the programme, we expect to chart a clear roadmap for Nigerian newspapers, one that strengthens resilience, drives innovation, and positions our media to thrive confidently in an era defined by rapid digital change and global connectivity.”
According to him, the main facilitator of the conference, Kirsten Myklebust, is a distinguished Norwegian journalist and media leader who is currently a project leader on newspaper digitalisation.
The conference will convene a diverse audience comprising newspaper proprietors and publishers, journalists and editors, scholars of communication and media, technology experts, students of Mass Communication, public relations practitioners, digital entrepreneurs, government agencies, policymakers, and professional media bodies.
To host this conference, Caleb University is partnering with the Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ), the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).
While participation in the two programmes is free, participants are required to register online before the deadline of July 15, 2026.
