The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN) has announced plans to launch a local project management model aimed at reducing project failures in Nigeria.
CIPMN Registrar-General of CIPMN, Mr. Henry Mbadiwe, made the announcement at the Institute’s 2025 Mid-Year Training and Induction in Abuja on Tuesday.
The framework, according to Mr. Mbadiwe, is called Delivering Unified Control Agile Project (DUCAP).
Mbadiwe described DUCAP as a hybrid model that combines global standards like PRINCE2 and Association for Project Management (APM) with local insights and field experience from across Nigeria.
“It is a project management framework suited for Nigeria.
“We have taken lessons from globally tested frameworks and adapted them to our environment, whether you are delivering a road in Kano or building infrastructure in Lagos,” Mbadiwe said.
He linked frequent project failures in Nigeria to overreliance on foreign methods without adapting them to local contexts, resulting in inefficiency and abandoned projects.
He Said: “Using foreign frameworks in Nigeria without adjusting for our local realities has not worked.
“DUCAP is designed to change that by making project delivery simpler, more structured, and more effective,”
Mbadiwe added that enforcement mechanisms would soon be introduced to ensure that only certified professionals oversee and manage projects nationwide.
“We are preparing to activate regulatory frameworks. We are not trying to hinder practitioners, but to improve outcomes. The era of project failures and mismanagement must end.
“Strategy without project implementation is a dream, and project management is the vehicle through which Nigeria can drive sustainable economic development,” he added.
CIPMN President and Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Afolayan, said the Institute has shifted from awareness to action, with compliance checks set to begin across institutions.
“For years, we have advocated for standardised project delivery. Now is the time for action.
“Change will be gradual, but we are determined to elevate professionalism and enforce project management standards across Nigeria,” Afolayan said.
Lagos State’s Permanent Secretary for Economic Planning, Mrs. Olayinka Ojo, commended the Institute for creating a localised approach to boost project success across the country.
“This is a turning point in Nigeria’s development trajectory. The initiative provides a structured and professional foundation for executing projects aligned with global benchmarks,” he said.
The three-day event, themed “Project Management Practices – A Guarantee of Sustained Growth in This Digital Age,” featured panel sessions, expert talks, and the induction of 604 new members, including 60 fellows and 245 chartered professionals.
