The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN) has commenced efforts to curb project abandonment in Nigeria.
CIPMN said it wants to address the root causes of the issue and ensure better project management practices moving forward.
Speaking in Abuja ,the registrar of CIPMN, Mr. Henry Ifeanyi Mbadiwe, emphasised the importance of proper project planning and management to prevent future cases of project abandonment.
He acknowledged the challenges faced in changing past occurrences but stressed the institute’s focus on implementing effective strategies moving forward.
“We might be focusing on the future and looking at what we need to do moving forward. When a project starts, you need a project manager to help with the planning in order to ensure that not only do you have the money, but there is proper planning for changes so that we don’t have cases of project abandonment,” he said.
Mbadiwe stressed the importance of proper planning and strategic management from the outset of projects to avoid issues like inadequate funding and lack of contingency planning, which often lead to project abandonment.
He noted, “Sometimes projects can even stop for a while. As long as we know we are going to start this project in the next six months and there is proper planning, the project will be completed on time.”
Addressing the need for a dynamic approach to project planning, Mbadiwe said, “While we might not be sure of what has made different projects or what has caused the abandonment of different projects, we are going to start by looking into these projects, trying to understand why they were abandoned, and then we take the learnings from there and then begin to work out a new strategy and a dynamic approach to plan future projects going forward.
“My plan is to make sure that project management practices are elevated in Nigeria.
“It is a practice situation where you have a group of people who deliver change and bring about skills to deliver something that hasn’t been done before,” he added.
He emphasised the importance of human capital development and training in ensuring the success of project management practices in Nigeria, stating, “They don’t manufacture themselves,” and highlighting the institute’s ongoing efforts to train professionals for quality service delivery in project management.
The CIPMN is presently conducting training sessions to equip professionals with the necessary skills for delivering quality service in project management across the country.
The CIPMN’s initiative comes amidst increasing concerns over the prevalence of project abandonment in the country, with hopes that their proactive approach will lead to improved project outcomes and overall development in Nigeria.
