PMFORUM Breaking News

PMForum has received news that two active leaders of the potential chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI®) in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, have recently passed the Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification offered by PMI. The PMP certification is one of the best known and most highly regarded project management qualifications in the world. Dr. O. Chima Okereke passed the PMP certification exam on 26 June 2009. Mr. Emmanuel Udo passed the exam on 24 June 2009. Both are active in the Port Harcourt PM professional community.

While the passing of a PM certification is not generally big news, it can be significant for organizations and the project management profession in developing economies such as Nigeria. In many such countries, there are very few local qualified project managers and often none with certifications awarded by global organizations such as PMI.

According to Chima Okereke (pictured at right), "Since 2004, I have been interested in obtaining the PMP certification but I never had the time to even complete the comprehensive online form. As a CEO, I have been saddled with the challenges of running my company in a developing country. In addition, given the erratic power supply, I just could not do the online completion of the form. However, working from our UK office since later part of last year, I compelled myself to find time to complete and submit the forms. After the verification exercise, I was given the approval to take the examination. I took it first time yesterday, and to God be the glory, the Lord gave me success."

"I would also like to here congratulate Mr. Emmanuel Udo, another officer of PMI Port Harcourt Potential Chapter, on his success," he added. "I got his email that he took it on 24th June and passed."

Chima concluded, "I wish to thank all those who have contributed to preparing the members of our chapter for PMP certification by providing us with some useful PMP books and materials. In particular, I wish to thank our friends at PMI Mile Hi Chapter, especially the former president, Bob Kois, and the current president, Chuck Knezevich, and other members of the chapter. Many thanks to you all and others."

(Photo: Bob Kois, PMI CEO Gregory Balestrero, Chima Okereke, Chuck Knezevich in 2005. photo courtesy of Kois Technology Solutions, Denver)

Editor's note: Dr. Okereke has been an International Correspondent for PMForum in Nigeria since 2006. We at PMForum wish to congratulate Dr. Okereke and Mr. Udo for their recent accomplishments.