Abuja: The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN) underscores the significance of effective project management as a catalyst for national transformation, stating that successful projects lead to national prosperity. Mr. Henry Mbadiwe, Registrar-General and Chief Executive Officer of CIPMN, shared these insights during a news briefing in Abuja to mark the 2025 International Project Management Day.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, this annual event, celebrated on the first Thursday of November, centers this year on the theme ‘The Power Trio: Project, Leadership, and Agile.’ Initiated in 2004 by the International Institute for Learning, the celebration recognizes professionals and institutions that promote development through efficient project management and offers a platform for governments and stakeholders to reflect on the role of project delivery in economic growth and social progress.
Mbadiwe highlighted the theme’s focus on the interplay between structured project management, visionary leadership, and agility in adapting to change. He emphasized that these elements are crucial for institutions to translate leadership decisions into impactful outcomes. He further affirmed that CIPMN, established by Act No. 3 of 2018, serves as the Federal Government’s regulatory body for licensing, certifying, and supervising project management practices in Nigeria, ensuring that all projects meet quality, transparency, and sustainability standards.
He urged citizens, government agencies, and private organizations to recognize the critical role of project management in national development. According to Mbadiwe, projects do more than create structures; they improve lives, strengthen systems, and ensure value for money. He advised public institutions to establish project management offices, engage certified project managers, and train personnel according to CIPMN standards.
Mbadiwe also called on the private sector to maintain ethics and focus on performance-driven outcomes, emphasizing that compliance and accountability are central to project success. He outlined the five Cs of effective project management: Complexity, Criticality, Compliance, Culture, and Compassion, which guide the institute’s mission to enhance professionalism and excellence in project delivery nationwide.
He reiterated CIPMN’s commitment to collaborating with ministries, departments, and agencies to promote quality assurance, minimize project delays, and reduce cost overruns that impede Nigeria’s infrastructural growth. Underlining CIPMN’s dedication to professionalism, excellence, collaboration, diversity, and sustainability, Mbadiwe invited all stakeholders to support the institute in fostering a culture of reliable project management.
In his closing remarks, Mbadiwe announced CIPMN’s Annual Conference and Sixth Induction Ceremony, scheduled for Dec. 2 to Dec. 4, which will convene policymakers, professionals, and industry leaders to discuss leadership, project governance, and innovation in Nigeria’s development sector. He commended project managers nationwide for their contributions to national progress, encouraging them to continue generating value through integrity, innovation, and excellence.
‘As we celebrate this day, we are reminded that project management is not just a technical process but a vital instrument for national transformation. When projects succeed, Nigeria succeeds,’ Mbadiwe concluded, urging collective efforts to ensure that every project counts, every effort matters, and every Nigerian benefits.