BY EMMA PETER, ABUJA
Oluwaseyi Adeolowu, a Programme Manager with YALI Hope Community Centre (IHCC), Jos, Plateau State, has called on Nigerians to take greater responsibility for monitoring government projects and demanding accountability in the execution of public infrastructure.
Adeolowu made the call in Abuja during the Africa College of Project Management (ACPM) 2026 International Conference, Membership Induction and Annual General Meeting, held from October 22 to 23, 2026, where she spoke on the importance of professional project management in improving project delivery and addressing the challenge of abandoned projects across the country.
She described her participation in the conference and certification as the fulfilment of a long-standing professional goal, noting that acquiring the relevant knowledge and skills was essential to carrying out programmes and managing projects efficiently and effectively.
According to her, professional certification would help project managers understand and apply globally recognised standards, improve their performance and ensure that projects are delivered in line with established frameworks.
“Change begins with us. The first step is seeking knowledge. Now that we have acquired the knowledge, the change begins with me in the way I carry out my projects,” she said.
Adeolowu explained that certified project managers had a responsibility to translate the knowledge acquired into practical results by ensuring that projects were properly planned, organised, executed and completed according to established standards.
She said the growing concern over abandoned projects and poor infrastructure delivery in Nigeria made it necessary for professionals to embrace best practices and demonstrate greater accountability in their respective fields.
The programmes manager noted that certification should not merely be regarded as a professional achievement but also as a commitment to higher standards of service, transparency and responsible project execution.
According to her, certification would also make it easier for members of the public to hold project managers accountable for their work, particularly when projects fail to meet expected standards.
“If you are now a certified project manager, people can hold you accountable and ask why you are not doing things according to the required standards,” she said.
Adeolowu stressed that project management was directly connected to governance because government activities, including road construction, bridges, schools and public buildings, involved the planning and implementation of projects.
She maintained that the quality of public infrastructure depended largely on how effectively projects were managed, urging those responsible for government contracts to ensure that projects met both local requirements and internationally recognised standards.
She added that Nigeria needed a stronger culture of professionalism and accountability to improve infrastructure quality and reduce the occurrence of poorly executed and abandoned projects.
Adeolowu also encouraged Nigerians to move beyond the assumption that monitoring public projects was exclusively the responsibility of government agencies, insisting that citizens had a legitimate role to play in ensuring that public funds were properly utilised.
She urged citizens to ask questions about the scope, cost, timelines and expected completion dates of projects in their communities, noting that such information could help expose delays, irregularities and deviations from approved plans.
According to her, members of the public could also seek information on government capital projects through online platforms and use appropriate channels to report suspected cases of poor implementation.
“Nigerians have the right to ask questions. When you see a road or bridge under construction, you should want to know how much is being spent, when the project is expected to end and who is responsible for its execution,” she said.
She explained that public participation in project monitoring would complement the work of professionals and relevant government institutions, helping to ensure that projects were delivered in the interest of the people.
Adeolowu further called for the use of appropriate reporting channels where project implementation appeared inconsistent with approved plans, adding that professionals and citizens alike should be willing to raise concerns when necessary.
She said the responsibility for improving project delivery should be shared across society, noting that accountability at different levels would make it easier for project managers to discharge their duties effectively.
The ACPM 2026 International Conference brought together project management professionals, delegates and other stakeholders to discuss issues relating to professional development, project management standards and the contribution of effective project delivery to Africa’s development.
The conference theme, “Project Management: Positioning Africa as the Pathway to Global Competitiveness,” highlighted the importance of strengthening project management capacity to support development and improve Africa’s competitiveness.
The event also featured membership induction and the Annual General Meeting of the Africa College of Project Management, an organisation focused on promoting professional standards and capacity development in project management.
Adeolowu’s call underscored the need for a stronger partnership between certified professionals, government institutions and citizens to improve the implementation of public projects and ensure that infrastructure investments deliver meaningful benefits to communities.
