CIPMN mandates certification for project managers

The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria has stated its resolve to ensure that only certified professionals are authorised to manage projects in Nigeria.

The Registrar of the Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria, Henry Mbadiwe, said this recently at the three-day training and induction event, titled: “The Digital Project Manager”.

He pointed to legal provisions requiring certification and licensing, stating, “There is an establishing law in Nigeria that makes sure that if you are not a licensed CIPMN member or if you are not a licensed project manager in Nigeria, you cannot deliver projects in this country or lead projects. It does not matter if you are Julius Berger.”

He further underscored CIPMN’s goal to foster local talent and ensure high standards in project delivery.

“What CIPMN is aiming to do is to build that human capital in Nigeria, teach us how to ensure that projects are delivered properly in this country, and regulate this sector to ensure that quacks do not just go in there and start delivering projects in this country,” he noted.

He also acknowledged the slow pace of government support, despite some progress, particularly through collaborations with the Ministry of Trade and Investment and the Industrial Training Fund.

According to Mbadiwe, support from the private sector and government support has been moving very slowly, adding, “However, one thing I would say is that our surviving minister, Doctor Doris Uzoka-Anite, has been very supportive.

“The Presidency has been trying its best to make sure that this country moves, but I dare to say that there is more to do, we are still moving. It needs to continue to grow,” he concluded.

Also, the President of the Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria, Akinola Babalola, reiterated the organisation’s dual role as both a regulatory body and a professional institute.

“Project Managers of Nigeria is an agency of government saddled with the responsibility of regulating project management in Nigeria and also training and building capacity in that field of endeavour.

“It is our mandate to bring in people, improve their professional expertise through training and capacity building, and also prepare them for the job ahead of them to build processes and principles that will help improve project delivery in Nigeria,” Babalola stated.

He stressed the need to adapt technology in project management, saying, “In project management, we have evolved because now everything has gone digital, and if we do not equip our members to update their knowledge, their skills, we will be left behind.”