ABUJA — The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN) has advised government at all levels to engage professionals in the implementation of critical projects rather than quacks, to avoid poor execution of projects.
The President of the institute, Dr Victoria Okoronkwo, gave advice at the induction ceremony for 74 new members of the institute on Thursday in Abuja.
CIPMN was established to regulate the standards, training, discipline and control of the profession of project management in Nigeria.
Okoronkwo, speaking with newsmen after the ceremony, urged the government to take CIPMN seriously, saying its members were people properly trained and mandated to handle projects in country.
“As mandated by the institute’s Act, if you are not a member of the Institute, you are not allowed to handle projects. The days of quacks are gone,” she said.
Okonkwo, speaking on the benefits of the institute to Nigeria, said it had highly qualified professionals who would handle projects professionally to make sure that the desired value was delivered.
She also expressed determination that the institute would address the activities of impostors engaging in shoddy implementation of projects in the country.
As Nigeria marks its 61st independence anniversary, Okoronkwo said the country remained a huge construction project waiting to be explored and developed to our economic advantage.
A member of the institute, Anyim Nyerere, said one of the roles of the institute was to sensitise Nigerians on the role of project managers.
Regarding the existing legal framework guiding execution of key projects in the country, Nyerere said the institute’s Act provides clear guidelines on the rules for project management.
“What is required is strict enforcement and implementation. I think if we are to enforce the law on project management and implementation, Nigeria will be able to sing a new song in the country.
“Also the rate of abandoned projects will be reduced to the barest minimum,” she said.
Highlights of the ceremony included the presentation of awards to some Nigerians including, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu, Senator representing Abia North.
