The Federal Government of Nigeria has intensified its stance against unlicensed contractors and project managers, moving to strengthen legal frameworks to impose stiffer sanctions on those operating without proper credentials. The initiative was championed by the Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN), which called for enhanced regulatory measures to protect the integrity of public and private sector projects.
Henry Mbadiwe, the Registrar-General and Chief Executive Officer of the CIPMN, made the appeal in Abuja during the International Project Management Day and the institute’s 8th Annual Induction and Conference. Mbadiwe emphasized that the institute is currently developing the necessary knowledge frameworks and licensing requirements to train and regulate project management professionals across the country. He stressed that the CIPMN was established by law to ensure that individuals responsible for planning, leading, and managing projects in Nigeria are professionally licensed.
Despite its mandate, Mbadiwe noted that the CIPMN has been self-sustaining through membership registration, training programs, and collaborations with ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), without direct financial support from the Federal Government. He argued that the institute cannot limit its operations to major cities like Abuja and Lagos but must be accessible to every Nigerian seeking licensure. "To ensure that this institute is reachable to every Nigerian who wants to be a licensed project manager, we need that grant from the Federal Government," Mbadiwe stated.
We cannot be in Abuja only or in Lagos. We cannot deprive individuals in other geopolitical zones. To ensure that this institute is reachable to every Nigerian who wants to be a licensed project manager, we need that grant from the Federal Government.
Mbadiwe cited specific examples of high-stakes projects that require specialized management skills, including technology initiatives within government ministries, immigration services, and the Federal Fire Service. He urged for dedicated funds to pursue unlicensed project managers who bypass these regulatory standards, arguing that such enforcement is critical for the professionalization of the sector.
Supporting the regulatory push, Adebowale Adedokun, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), highlighted the importance of proper project delivery for industrial development. Adedokun explained that procurement serves to translate government policies into concrete requirements, select capable contractors, and establish contractual arrangements. He stated that the BPP is actively boosting procurement reforms to promote Nigerian enterprises, expand local supply chains, and increase the participation of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in government contracts.
Adedokun disclosed that the bureau’s MSME Public Procurement Training and Establishment Programme, which is supported by the Development Bank of Nigeria and the World Bank, had registered 4,417 businesses as of February 2, 2026. This initiative aims to ensure that infrastructure, productive assets, and public services are delivered effectively to achieve meaningful economic growth.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
