Project Managers Institute Commits To Training For Economic Development

The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN) said it is intensifying its efforts to advance project management knowledge and skills nationwide, aligning with the federal government’s development objectives.

In an interview in Abuja, the registrar and chief executive of CIPMN, Henry Mbadiwe,  emphasised the institute’s role in driving human capital development as part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda—a central aspect of the administration’s national growth strategy.

Mbadiwe detailed the institute’s recent accomplishments, including the creation of a Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standard (CCMAS) for project management in Nigerian universities and the initiation of a skills development program for artisans through the Industrial Training Fund’s (ITF) SUPA program. “We are equipping artisans with skills in project planning, risk management, and stakeholder management, which enhances their work quality and contributes to GDP growth,” he said.

He also disclosed that CIPMN is partnering with organisations such as the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to ensure that only licensed project managers oversee contracts in Nigeria.

“By ensuring that every project is managed by a licensed professional, we can improve planning, risk management, and supply chain management across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in Nigeria. This approach will significantly reduce the number of abandoned projects due to inadequate management skills,” he explained.

Mbadiwe voiced concerns about projects within MDAs being managed by individuals lacking proper project management qualifications, emphasising that “The CIPMN Act mandates that anyone managing or leading a project in Nigeria must be licensed by our institute.

Managing a project without this licence is illegal.”

He announced that CIPMN will enforce these regulations starting in 2025 and will publicly hold non-compliant agencies and organisations accountable.

Regarding past controversies, Mbadiwe clarified that the institute’s former governing council had been legally dissolved and that he had been reappointed as registrar.

He criticised former president Victoria Okoronkwo and vice president Jamilu Yakwashi for continuing to claim leadership roles despite a court ruling confirming their removal.

“The only legitimate CIPMN today is the result of the president’s 2022 decision to dissolve the self-appointed council and appoint a sole administrator to establish new leadership,” he concluded.