TEXEM founder bags UK CIPD fellowship for leadership research

Dr Alim Abubakre. Photo: Dr Alim Abubakre

The founder of TEXEM, Dr Alim Abubakre, has been awarded Academic Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, in recognition of his contribution to teaching, research and leadership development.

According to a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Tuesday, the fellowship followed an assessment of Abubakre against the CIPD’s Academic membership criteria and allows him to use the designatory letters Academic FCIPD after his name.

Commenting on the recognition, Rt Hon Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness, who co-delivered a series of leadership sessions with Abubakre, said the fellowship reflected his ability to translate academic research into practical leadership development.

“Converting the insights of the latest academic research into inspiring, practical and effective courses for political and corporate leaders sets Dr Abubakre apart. It’s great to see him recognised as a Fellow of the CIPD,” Stuart said.

Victoria Winkler, Chartered FCIPD, Standards and Professional Development Director at the CIPD, said the fellowship recognised the contribution of academics to the development of the people profession and future leaders.

“Academic Fellowship of the CIPD is a badge of expertise, credibility, and authority. It recognises the vital role that academics play in advancing the people profession through teaching, research, thought leadership and the development of future leaders,” she said.

Abubakre said the recognition carried a responsibility to ensure that academic knowledge translated into practical improvements in organisations and institutions.

“Recognition should increase responsibility, not simply status. For me, this Fellowship is a commitment to make knowledge travel further: from research into teaching, from teaching into organisations, and from organisations into decisions that improve performance and widen opportunity,” he said.

He added that the award would strengthen his efforts to connect scholarship with the practical challenges facing leaders and institutions.

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“International business ultimately succeeds through people, trust and relationships. My next step is to deepen the connection between scholarship and practice, helping leaders understand complex systems better, build stronger institutions and turn insight into action that people can actually experience,” Abubakre said.

TEXEM said it had inspired more than 4,000 leaders globally through its executive development programmes, with its work focused on helping leaders apply knowledge and insight to complex organisational and institutional challenges.

Abubakre’s research has examined stakeholder collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic across Sub-Saharan Africa and the barriers facing small and medium-sized enterprises in public procurement.

He also serves as a Board Director of the Business Council for Africa, a role which the organisation said provided a link between academic ideas and the practical realities facing leaders, investors and institutions across different markets.

The recognition comes amid growing pressure on organisations and leaders to respond to rapid technological change, geopolitical uncertainty and increasingly complex governance challenges.

TEXEM said the changing environment had made continuous learning increasingly important, particularly as artificial intelligence reshapes work and decision-making.

Abubakre said the growing availability of information made sound judgement even more important for leaders.

“Leaders can obtain answers faster, but they still have to decide which questions matter, which interests to balance, which risks to accept and what responsible action looks like,” he said.

He said lifelong learning should therefore remain a central part of leadership, adding that experience should not prevent leaders from questioning their assumptions and adapting to new evidence.