With organisations becoming more project-oriented, Project Management has gradually grown to become one of the most in-demand workplace skills among organizations in Nigeria.
Are you competing for a job in project management or looking to improve your project management skills to stand out from the competition?
You’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about acquiring PMP certification in Nigeria.
Table of Contents
What is Project Management?
First things first, what is project management all about?
Project management is simply the planning, organization and proper utilization of a company’s resources towards the fulfilment of a specific task or objective.
There are various stages of project management such as;
Project Initiation: This involves a feasibility study to evaluate the problem and determine whether a project plan can be successful,
Project Definition and Planning: This involves defining and confirming project goals and objectives, identifying resources, roles, and risks as well as determining budgets and timelines for completion.
Project Implementation: This involves putting your plan into action and overseeing the team to keep the project on track.
Project Monitoring and Control: This involves the measurement of the project’s progress to ensure the proper management of budget and resources. And also to make sure that the project is moving in line with the objectives and according to the plan.
Project Close: This signifies the completion of the project.
Who is a Project Manager?
A project manager is an individual tasked with the responsibility of overseeing the completion and delivery of a project.
Planning, executing, monitoring, controlling, and completing projects are all under his/her direct control.
Therefore, he/she must have a complete understanding of Project Management.
To have a complete understanding of Project Management, a project manager should endeavour to acquire a project management certification.
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How to become a Certified Project Manager in Nigeria
To acquire project management certifications in Nigeria, visit PMI Nigeria.
There are nine different project management certifications offered by the Project Management Institute.
Four of these project management certifications are general while five are specialized.
1. General Certifications
A. Project Management Professional (PMP)
According to PMI Nigeria, PMP is the gold standard for project management certifications.
It is one of the most popular project management certifications as it represents your in-depth understanding and expertise in project management.
Requirements
- Degree with at least 36 months of project leadership experience within the past eight years.
- At least 60 months of experience leading projects within the past eight years with a secondary education diploma or equivalent.
- 35 hours of project management training. The training could be webinars, on-demand courses, or an authorised training partner.
B. Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
This is an important first step in building your career as a project manager.
It is a building block to help you on your way to acquiring other project management certifications, especially the PMP ‘gold standard’ certification.
Requirements
- Secondary school certificate.
- Education in project management should amount to at least 23 hours.
C. Program Management Professional (PgMP)
Requirements
- A secondary education
- Experience managing projects for at least 48 months OR PMP certification
- A minimum of 84months experience in program management within the last 15 years
OR
- Bachelor’s degree
- Experience managing projects for at least 48 months OR PMP certification
- A minimum of 48 months experience in program management within the last 15 years.
D. Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)
Requirements
- Experience with a professional business for 96 months during the last 15 years
- Secondary school certificate
- Experience with portfolio management for the past 84 months.
OR
- Professional business experience for 96 months during the last 15 years
- Bachelor’s degree
- 48 months of portfolio management experience.
E. PMI Project Management Ready (PMI-PMR)
The PMI Project Management Ready is a new certification that introduces secondary and post-secondary students to the idea and art of project management.
Requirement
- Read at a ninth-grade level
- Possess fundamental computer literacy
- Be able to participate in training and take exams
2. Specialized certifications
A. PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)
Business Analysis has become an important qualification organizations are looking for in project managers as a lot of project or program managers perform business analysis, work with project teams, and manage requirements and project development.
Requirement
- A secondary education
- Experience in business analysis for at least 60 months.
- Education in business analysis should amount to at least 35 hours.
OR
- Bachelor’s degree
- Experience in business analysis for at least 36 months.
- Education in business analysis should amount to at least 35 hours.
Read also: How to build a career in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
B. PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)
Risks are challenges that cause delays and may result in the failure of a project. However, when managed well, risks can offer a competitive advantage.
This certification has been revised to include agile and hybrid situations as well as enterprise-level risks project managers need to put into consideration.
Requirement
- A secondary education (high school diploma, associate’s degree, or equivalent in other countries).
- A minimum of 36 months of professional business experience within the last 5 years.
- Education in project risk management education should amount to at least 40 hours.
OR
- Bachelor’s degree
- Minimum of 24 months experience in project risk management during the last 5 years.
- Education in project risk management should amount to at least 30 hours.
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C. PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)
Due to the increase in virtual and global projects and teams, managing activities, resources, dependencies and ultimately, project outcomes have come to rely on project schedules.
Requirement
- Secondary certificate
- Minimum of 40 months experience in project schedule during the last 5 years.
- Education in project scheduling should amount to at least 40 hours.
OR
- Bachelor’s degree
- Experience in project scheduling for 24 months during the past 5 years.
- Education in project scheduling should amount to 30 hours.
D. Construction Professional in Built Environment Projects (PMI-CP)
The PMI-CP is another new certificate offered by the Project Management Institute. It is for professionals in the construction industry.
Requirement
- You must have completed at least 4 e-learning courses and 3 courses and micro-credential bundles
- A minimum of 3 years of experience in the construction industry.
Why You Need Project Management Certifications
While project management certifications may take time, effort, and money, they have their benefits.
-
Higher salary
A study conducted by PMI revealed that project managers who are certified earn 20 per cent more than project managers who are not certified.
A project management certification is bound to increase your salary prospects as well as put you at the forefront of potential employers.
-
Skill improvement
Project management certifications expose candidates to the global standard of project management as well as enable them to hone their skills in the various phases of project management from the initiation to the closing of a project.
-
Credibility
Project management certifications help you stand out from the competition as most organisations make it a criterion.
It also positions you for bigger projects and opens up doors for you within your company or in another organization.
Conclusion
Acquiring Project management Certifications is the best decision you can make as a project manager.
The first step to becoming certified is to determine what project manager you are or want to be and selecting the certificate that suits you while also ensuring you are eligible for it.
If you’re ready to get certified as a project manager, head over to the Project Management Institute’s website to begin your application.
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About Author
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Jemiyotan is a writer, researcher, and instructional designer.
She likes to discover new ideas and explain them in an easy-to-understand way. She enjoys finding the perfect balance between the complex details of her topic and the feelings it can evoke.
When she's not writing, you'll most likely find her exploring the latest trends on social media or binge-watching shows.
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