From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN) has issued a final ultimatum to the Project Management Institute (PMI) Nigeria and other project management training and consulting organisations, demanding that they obtain the required licensing and accreditation or face serious legal consequences for violating the CIPMN Establishment Act.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the Registrar General and Chief Executive Officer of CIPMN, Mr. Henry Ifeanyi Mbadiwe, said the institute would not hesitate to clamp down on any organisation or individual operating outside the provisions of the law.
The event was themed, “A Call to Accreditation and Compliance with the CIPMN Establishment Act.”
Mbadiwe stressed that anyone who has completed certification from PMI or any other training body must be duly certified by CIPMN before they can lawfully practice as a project manager in Nigeria.
He warned: “This is the final call I am making to PMI Nigeria and all other project management training and consulting organisations—do not break the law. We will use every legal instrument available to us to seal off violators and bring them to justice. It is an offence to lead any project without a valid CIPMN license.”
He added that Nigeria is not a lawless nation, and that the country’s legal and institutional frameworks must be respected by all stakeholders.
Citing specific sections of the law, Mr. Mbadiwe explained that Section 15(1a) of the CIPMN Establishment Act empowers the Council to approve qualifications and courses of training from any approved institution, provided the Council deems them sufficient to equip professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to practice project management.
Additionally, qualifications gained through examinations associated with such training must meet standards acceptable to the Council.
He further noted that under Section 21(1), the Council is mandated to make rules for the training, regulation, and supervision of project management professionals, and can restrict the right to practice if qualifications obtained outside Nigeria do not meet required standards.
For foreign-trained professionals residing in Nigeria, Section 8 requires them to register with CIPMN within 12 months of the Act’s commencement if they wish to practice.
Moreover, Section 9A states that no individual is permitted to head a project management role in any organisation without being duly registered as a qualified member of the Institute through examination or an approved award.
Mr. Mbadiwe also pointed out that Section 7 requires the Council to periodically publish details of recognised qualifications in the Federal Government Gazette, while Section 19(2) makes it an offence for anyone who is not a registered member of the Institute to practice project management, present themselves as members, or receive any form of reward or recognition in that capacity.
He added that under Section 20(1), all regulations made by the Institute must be published in the Gazette and forwarded to the Minister of Commerce at least seven days before publication.
In conclusion, Mr. Mbadiwe aligned CIPMN’s efforts with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, which emphasizes institutional reform, professionalism, and accountability.
He declared that the institute would fully enforce the law in order to strengthen the project management profession for the benefit of Nigeria.
“Nigeria is a country governed by laws,” he said. “CIPMN will not shy away from its mandate. We will continue to act decisively in the interest of the country, the profession, and the people.”
