By Hon. Ayodele Thomas, MPM CIPM FAAPM
On Thursday 7 November 2024, the world celebrated International Project Management Day (IPM Day). The day was set aside annually to celebrate, recognize and pay tributes to the selfless sacrifices, contributions, strategic leadership and innovative roles and achievements of Project leaders, project Managers and Project Teams and sociopolitical and economic leaders around the world who have encouraged the use of necessary project management tools and resourcefulness to drive meaningful and sustainable transformation of their society.
The theme for the year’s celebrations, “People, Purpose and Projects” drew attention to the need to embrace Project Management Methodologies and adapt to change by initiating new ideas, perspectives, and approaches in all facets of our National lives and by so doing open up endless possibilities for growth, development and improvement.
At the same time, it draws attention to the need to reinforce the “concept of project economy” as the way to go in addressing the critical infrastructural needs of the Nation. By implication, we must empower our project teams, at different levels of Nation building, by providing them with the necessary tools, resources, and support to drive meaningful and sustainable transformation. In the process, we can together effectively annex the power hidden behind the uncertainty of our current situation to build a brighter, more efficient, and sustainable tomorrow.
Accordingly, in recognition of the groundbreaking and enduring impact of promoting Project Management methodologies decision in Abia state in the last one year, the “Higher Education Leadership and Policy Project, HELP” under the auspices of the “Independent Monitoring of Project Accountability, Compliance and Transparency, IMPACT” & “Project Impact Review and Technical Evaluation Assistance [PIRTEA]” is dedicating the 2024 International Project Management Day to honour the Executive Governor of Abia Excellency, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, for leading the way and for being catalyst for change and for being a member of the Global Movement of Leaders using the power of Project Management to drive success and shaping the future of their society.
Ground for the Award of Recognition
Infrastructure Projects Governance Advocacy:
His Excellency, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, has taken the bold step to promote, deepen and strengthen the process and deployment of Policy tools and Frameworks to Identify, Plan, Implement, Monitor, and make Executive Decisions about public infrastructure development in Abia State.
This bold step has helped the state to optimize its infrastructure investments and at the same time ensure that infrastructures are accessible, cost-effective, and sustainable. This is very commendable as it has gained the support, trust and confidence of all stakeholders in the Abia development.
Conclusion
HELP’s “Infrastructure Projects Governance Advocate of the Year 2024” is a leader and sponsor of the current Abia administration and has advanced the pursuit of evidence & Result based deployment of Systematic Model to Initiate/Select, Plan, Organize, Handle, Distribute and Deliver projects, most especially, critical infrastructures to meet the needs of the less privileged and the underserved under challenging circumstances and in environment of high risk of changes where project objectives, outcomes or completion dates sometimes proved uncertain.
