Project managers to enforce licensing, jail term awaits defaulters

The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN), says it has concluded plans to commence strict enforcement of its licensing law, warning that individuals and organizations practicing project management without CIPMN authorization face prosecution and possible two-year jail terms as stipulated by law. Registrar-General of CIPMN, Mr. Henry Mbadiwe, stated this during a press […]

The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN), says it has concluded plans to commence strict enforcement of its licensing law, warning that individuals and organizations practicing project management without CIPMN authorization face prosecution and possible two-year jail terms as stipulated by law.

Registrar-General of CIPMN, Mr. Henry Mbadiwe, stated this during a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja to mark the 2025 International Project Management Day, with the theme, “The Power of Thrill: Project Leadership and Agile.”

Mbadiwe emphasized that the CIPMN Act No. 3 of 2018 empowers the Institute to regulate, certify, and monitor all project management practices across Nigeria, similar to how the Medical and Dental Council licenses doctors.

“Anyone practising project management in Nigeria without a CIPMN license commits an offence punishable by two-year imprisonment or an option of fine.

“Equally, any organization that hires an unlicensed project manager becomes complicit under the same law,” he stated.

The CIPMN boss clarified that the Institute’s enforcement model targets both individuals and their employers, noting that the intent is not punitive but corrective to strengthen accountability and ensure proper project delivery.

“We will not just walk into institutions and start closing projects. We will first identify who managed those projects, confirm if they are licensed, and if not, both the project manager and the employer would be liable under the Act,” he explained.

He explained that the Institute has also designed a Customer Relationship Management system to track members’ activities and monitor project outcomes nationwide.