Abuja: The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN) and the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs are collaborating to bolster the project management capabilities of civil servants.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, this initiative was highlighted during a visit by CIPMN Registrar-General, Henry Mbadiwe, and his team to the ministry, where they conferred fellowship awards on Minister Zaphaniah Jisalo and Permanent Secretary Dr. Onwusoro Ihemelandu. The effort aims to equip public servants nationwide with practical skills in project conception, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation to enhance service delivery.

Ihemelandu, speaking on behalf of the minister, emphasized the training’s role in enhancing civil servants’ capacity in project management and delivery. He noted the program’s potential to scale across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas, beginning with the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The initial beneficiaries are set to be Permanent Secretaries at the Federal and state levels, followed by Directors and all civil servants across Nigeria’s local governments.

The Permanent Secretary highlighted that the exercise would not only build capacity but also tackle significant challenges in project costing, monitoring, and material quality assurance, which often impede project delivery. He pointed out that volatility in the naira and inadequate cost management knowledge are major issues undermining project execution. He also urged CIPMN to organize a stakeholders’ forum to engage relevant Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and professional bodies.

Earlier, Mbadiwe underscored that the partnership marks a new phase in advancing professionalism in project management across Nigeria. He reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to supporting the civil service in alignment with its mandate. He also emphasized the importance of maintaining project management at the forefront of national initiatives and collaborating with CIPMN to fulfill its mandates effectively, in accordance with the country’s Renewed Hope Agenda.