Port Harcourt: The Association of Practising Professional Project Managers of Nigeria (APPMON) has announced the launch of a specialised platform aimed at improving project execution in Nigeria. Dr Yomi Ariyo, the National President of the association, made the remark during a news conference while unveiling the ”APPMON Body of Knowledge and Innovation (ABOKI)” platform.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the platform was developed to address the specific challenges and opportunities associated with managing projects within Nigeria and similar emerging markets. Dr Ariyo emphasized that the platform is more than just a collection of methodologies; it provides guiding insights and strategies tailored to the local context by integrating global best practices with indigenous knowledge. This integration ensures that project managers are equipped to navigate the complexities of the socio-economic environment effectively.
Ariyo noted that APPMON, established in December 2024, had already begun taking practical steps to ensure that project execution adheres to international best practices. Efforts are underway to support the adoption and integration of the platform within national and organisational project management frameworks. He described the unveiling of ABOKI as the beginning of a new era of project management in Nigeria, where the body of knowledge will evolve with the changing demands of the profession.
He called on management professionals, industry leaders, policymakers, and the academic community to adopt the platform to elevate the standard of project delivery across the country. Dr Inemi Stephen, South-South Zonal Coordinator of APPMON, highlighted that the core issue with project execution in Nigeria is not the lack of ideas but the challenges in execution, which are often due to systematic issues, conflicting frameworks, ethical lapses, and unsuitable imported models.
Stephen pointed out that the country has lost over N17 trillion due to failed or abandoned projects, citing the numerous projects abandoned by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as examples. He described the tangible project landscape as being marred by abandoned roads, halted hospital constructions, and budgetary inefficiencies. The intangible projects, such as public awareness campaigns and social interventions, have also suffered a similar fate.
ABOKI is presented as a structured, research-based, and practical response aimed at improving the success rate of future projects in Nigeria. Stephen, who led the ABOKI research initiative, disclosed that the document includes six-part methodologies, such as Project Evaluation and Audit Standards and Mediation and Arbitration for project success. Other components include Health, Safety, and Environmental standards applicable to all project types, Event Management and Crowd Control, and protocols for Proceeding Against Professional Advice.