By Daniel Tyokua
The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian police to rescue the body from those masquerading themselves as the leaders.
Founder/president of the institute, Dr Victoria Okoronkwo made the appeal during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.
She said those disguising as executives of the Chartered Institute were sending a wrong signal about the country and projects management across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Mrs Okoronkwo noted that the body was disturbed by activities of some individuals who have assumed false identity, deceiving unsuspecting members of the public that, they were new emerged leaders.
“We are appealing to president Bola Tinubu, Nigerian police and other Nigerians to wade into the matter. It is strange for people that I employed and gave appointment letter to be disguising as executives.
“The kind of reports that I am seeing in some session of the media these days is wrong, the impostors are promoting it.
According to her, she founded the Institute during a period of fourteen years; 2004-2007 registered by Corporate Affairs Commission as Institute of Project Managers Limited, which the draft bill was submitted to the National Assembly in 2013; enactment into Law of Parliament 2017; Assenting into Law by former President Muhammadu Buhari, on 24th January, 2018.
She said: “Subsequently, for nearly two years(January, 2018 to December 2, 2019) moves of correspondences and visits by me and other members were frustrated by the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment, under the former minister creating opening for people that I employed to hijack the body.
“The matter is before a court, is a contempt of court for people to still be parading themselves as executives. These people scrambling, Jamilu Yankwashi, Tunji Ariyomo and Akin Babaloa and many others are people that I employed for us to give new face to project issues in the country, It is strange to me the manner they are going about the whole thing, how can men gang up to hijack an initiative that a woman started to promote standards?.
She alleged that the former Minister of Trade and Investment with some officials of the ministry conspired to scam the Institute.
“There was an appropriation that I am aware that came in 2021 to CIPMN but never entered our bank account.Prince Akin Babalola like Tunji Ariyomo have been a political aide and was brought in by Tunji Ariyomo to represent the Hon Minister, employed as Deputy Registrar, Academics. Now the illegal Ministerial operation has appointed him a President of an Act- parallel to CIPMN.
“Taking a look at the array of the purported council, this plan shows nothing about the Est. Act or history of CIPMN. Chief Olabode Emmanuel Afolalayan – President, Engr Tunji Ariyomo – Vice Chairman, Prince Akin Babalola – President.
“The above array suggests that the Minister did a private job while in public office, using available govt weapons. Is it not open day armed robbery?
