By Lucy Ogalue
The Registrar of the Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN), Mr Henry Mbadiwe, has made an urgent call for the enforcement of certification compliance among project managers in Nigeria.
Mbadiwe, who made the call at the 2024 Annual Project Management Conference in Abuja on Monday, said that certified project managers were critical to reducing the rate of failed and abandoned projects in the country.
According to him, every project manager, including foreign nationals, must regularise their certifications within 12 months of commencing work in Nigeria.
“Non-compliance is unacceptable. Starting 2025, we will intensify enforcement to ensure that every project, regardless of the sector, is delivered by certified professionals,” he said.
He said that enforcing certification laws would help to deliver value to Nigerians, improve project execution, and ensure accountability in sectors like construction, healthcare, and financial services.
Also speaking, the Chairman of CIPMN, Mr Olabode Afolayan, reiterated the challenges posed by non-professionals managing projects in Nigeria, citing significant losses in time, resources, and livelihoods.
“Going around the country, you see the impact of unqualified individuals managing projects. It is evident in the poorly executed projects we encounter daily.
“However, with the dynamic leadership of the council, we are determined to enforce existing laws and ensure square pegs are in square holes,” he said.
He called for collaborative efforts and sensitisation programmes to educate stakeholders on the importance of certification in delivering impactful projects.
The Director of ICT at the National Pension Commission (PENCOM), Mr Micheal Popoola, restated the role of project management in mitigating risks and ensuring adaptability, particularly in the pension industry.
Popoola said that project management principles, especially agile methodologies, were essential for managing uncertainties and delivering results.
He said that continuous upskilling and collaboration between institutions and the government were key to achieving the desired outcomes.
Mr Tarfa Makyur, Head, Departmemt of Monitoring and Development at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), expressed the agency’s commitment to professionalism.
“In the capital market, certification is non-negotiable. It ensures that only skilled practitioners handle critical tasks.
“This is vital for the Nigeria we dream of, where accountability and efficiency drive development,” Yusuf said.
He also expressed the commitment of the SEC to collaborating and working with the institute for the progress of the country.
Stakeholders at the conference agreed that fostering collaboration, enforcing certification laws, and promoting capacity-building initiatives were pivotal steps toward ensuring successful project delivery across Nigeria.
NAN