The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN) is finalising a landmark project management framework known as the Delivering Unified Controlled Agile Project (DUCAP), aimed at becoming Nigeria’s first nationally recognised standard for project delivery by the end of 2025.
Speaking at the Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria’s (CIPMN) 2025 Mid-Year Training Programme and Induction Ceremony in Abuja, registrar-general, CIPMN Henry Mbadiwe, said the forthcoming DUCAP framework would serve as both a technical and legal benchmark for evaluating all projects executed nationwide. He said the framework marks a decisive shift from foreign project management models to a locally – contextualised structure that blends global best practices with Nigeria’s unique delivery challenges.
The event, themed: “Project Management Practices: A Guarantee of Sustained Growth in This Digital Age,” also marked a growth milestone for the Institute, with the induction of 604 new members—including 60 fellows and 245 chartered project managers.
Mbadiwe confirmed that enforcement structures are currently under development and the rollout will formally commence before the end of the year.
“It is a project management framework suited for Nigeria. We have taken lessons from globally tested frameworks and adapted them to our environment, whether you are delivering a road in Kano or building infrastructure in Lagos,” Mbadiwe said.
He said that widespread failures and delays in Nigeria projects were linked to overreliance on foreign methodologies without contextual adaptation, leading to inefficiency and abandoned outcomes.
“Using foreign frameworks in Nigeria without adjusting for our local realities has not worked. DUCAP is designed to change that by making project delivery simpler, more structured, and more effective,” he said.
“Strategy without project implementation is a dream, and project management is the vehicle through which Nigeria can drive sustainable economic development,” he said.
“We are preparing to activate regulatory frameworks.
We are not trying to hinder practitioners, but to improve outcomes. The era of project failures and mismanagement must end.
“This is about more than project management,” said Mbadiwe. “If we get this right, we don’t just change how Nigeria builds — we change what Nigeria becomes.”
Mbadiwe explained that the framework offers a structured yet flexible hybrid approach that adapts to different project phases and local conditions across Nigeria’s diverse regions.
He said the framework addresses Nigeria-specific challenges—such as funding gaps, cultural dynamics, and logistical constraints—that often derail projects. DUCAP, he noted, allows project managers to pause or scale initiatives to avoid waste, rather than forcing completion despite limitations. It also aims to standardise and professionalise project management nationwide, ensuring quality, accountability, and alignment with regulatory bodies across sectors.
“Projects in Nigeria fail not just from lack of funding, but from inconsistent standards. We’re filling that gap with DUCAP.
“DUCAP draws on global frameworks like PRINCE2, APM, and GILE, but it is built specifically for Nigeria,” he added. “It is practical in Lagos, realistic in Kano, and grounded in our unique development landscape.”
CIPMN president and chairman of Council, Emmanuel Afolayan, said the institute has concluded its advocacy phase and is now focused on regulatory enforcement, beginning with soft implementation in key public institutions.
“We’ve spent years on public awareness. Now we’re moving into regulatory enforcement,” Afolayan said. “We’re starting subtle because change is often resisted, but we are committed to seeing it through.”
Afolayan also confirmed the establishment of a compliance committee to monitor implementation and drive accountability.
The permanent secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Olayinka Ojo, praised the initiative, calling DUCAP a defining moment for Nigeria’s infrastructure and development planning.
“CIPMN is giving Nigeria its own standardised project delivery model,” he said. “The era of quackery must end. This is a shift toward professionalism, and every serious actor in the economy should align.”
Former lawmaker Hon. Sani Sha’aban, urged the institute’s members to carry out the reform with discipline and national focus.
“We’ve had laws against indiscipline, but they haven’t taken root,” he said. “If CIPMN remains focused, it can institutionalise the integrity we need in nation-building.”
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