CIPMN Begins Enforcement Against Unlicensed Project Managers, Warns of Jail Terms

 

By Atlantic Reports

Institute Begins Enforcement Drive

The Registrar-General and Chief Executive Officer of CIPMN, Henry Mbadiwe, disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing in Abuja.

Mbadiwe said the institute had secured the support of the Inspector-General of Police, with police formations nationwide directed to assist in enforcing the law regulating project management practice.

He said CIPMN had established enforcement structures, including legal procedures, while engaging organisations to encourage compliance before intensifying action against defaulters.

According to him, companies that continue to engage unlicensed project managers despite the sensitisation campaign could face legal action, while the practitioners involved could also be prosecuted.

Mbadiwe stressed that international certifications, professional degrees and other qualifications did not exempt practitioners from obtaining the licence required under Nigerian law.

The institute’s warning places responsibility on both individual practitioners and employers to verify professional credentials before assigning project management duties.

Public Register to Help Verify Practitioners

Mbadiwe said CIPMN planned to publish an updated list of licensed project managers on its website in November to enable employers and members of the public to check practitioners’ credentials.

He disclosed that the institute had recorded about 2,000 members since he assumed office on October 30, 2023, adding that further awareness campaigns were needed to increase the number of licensed professionals.

The proposed public register is expected to help organisations identify practitioners recognised by the institute.

However, the effectiveness of the enforcement drive will depend on accessible verification systems, clear licensing requirements and consistent application of the relevant law.

Universities to Introduce Project Management Curriculum

Mbadiwe said CIPMN had collaborated with the National Universities Commission (NUC) to develop a project management curriculum for Nigerian universities, which had been adopted for use by institutions.

He said the initiative was intended to build professional capacity among students and encourage them to obtain the necessary certification before entering the workforce.

The institute is also working with universities to enrol students in its professional membership system, allowing them to pursue recognised qualifications and potentially improve their employment prospects after graduation.

The move is aimed at introducing students to professional project management standards earlier in their academic and career development.

Digital System to Track Project Delivery

Addressing concerns about project failures in Nigeria, Mbadiwe said the institute planned to strengthen accountability by ensuring that projects were managed by licensed professionals whose details could be tracked through its digital system.

He explained that the system would help CIPMN identify the project managers responsible for failed projects and investigate their professional conduct and possible negligence.

Such investigations would be important in determining whether failures resulted from professional misconduct, poor planning, inadequate funding, implementation challenges or other factors.

The institute did not provide details of specific projects under investigation or disclose how its proposed tracking system would operate alongside existing public procurement and project oversight mechanisms.

Electronic Licensing and Examinations

Mbadiwe also said CIPMN had digitised its licensing and examination processes to promote transparency, prevent manipulation and allow qualified candidates to take examinations remotely under electronic monitoring.

According to him, the system uses facial recognition and other monitoring mechanisms to verify candidates’ identities and discourage examination malpractice.

The digitisation effort forms part of the institute’s broader plan to strengthen professional standards and improve the administration of its certification processes.

Annual Conference Scheduled for November

Mbadiwe announced that CIPMN would hold its annual conference between November 3 and 4, ahead of the International Project Management Day celebration on November 5.

He said the four-day programme, scheduled to run until November 6, would bring together licensed project management professionals and other stakeholders to promote professional standards and effective project delivery.

“The initiative is intended to demonstrate that project management requires established methodologies, principles and frameworks to deliver projects successfully and contribute to national development,” he said.

Enforcement and Accountability in Focus

CIPMN’s enforcement initiative raises important questions about compliance across Nigeria’s public and private sectors, where project delays, cost overruns and abandoned projects can carry significant economic and social consequences.

The institute says licensing, professional training and digital tracking will help improve accountability. The impact of the measures will depend on effective enforcement, transparent verification of credentials and fair procedures for investigating alleged professional misconduct.

Employers and practitioners will need clear guidance on licensing obligations, while the public register could provide a practical means of checking whether project managers meet the institute’s requirements.

Atlantic Reports: Voices. People. Facts.