Project mgt. professionals converge on Lagos for PMI Africa confab

Project Management Institute (PMI), the world’s leading association for project management professionals, said its seventh annual Africa conference will return as a physical event and be held at the Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos, Nigeria from September 11- 13, 2022.

The 2022 conference for the project economy leaders is themed, “Sustainable Growth for Social Good: Connecting ideas, people and projects”, and it is expected to attract over 700 attendees, a number limited to ensure everyone’s safety and in full compliance with the federal government’s Covid-19 protocols.

The conference will bring together chapter leaders, members, volunteers, captains of industry, government, and stakeholders from the project management sphere including project, programme, and portfolio managers with similar career goals to share best practices, earn professional development units (PDUs), meet like-minded professionals, learn and retain valuable skills and knowledge.

In addition, the marquee event will deliver expert insights, as well as serve as a platform for networking and knowledge sharing, while the expo floor at the conference will showcase products and services.

According to PMI’s talent gap survey, project management is key to the revival of firms in the post-pandemic world, while project management-oriented employment (PMOE) is expected to rise by 40 percent in sub-Saharan Africa before the next decade.

With the total gross domestic product (GDP) of projectified industries (industries with significant project management requirements) estimated to increase from $24.7 trillion in 2019 to $34.5 trillion in 2030, the conference is projected to help a global audience learn how changemakers and project professionals in Africa are seizing the incredible growth opportunity.

Commenting on the event, Ashwini Bakshi, managing director, Europe and sub-Saharan Africa, PMI, said it is a forum where visionary project leaders, captains of industry, and government come together to scrutinise the trends and technologies required to transform how projects are delivered.

“It is important that we continue to have these conversations as projects, and the successful management of them, are essential to industry and economic growth across the continent,” Bakshi added.

On hosting the conference in one of the continent’s largest economies, Paul Omugbe, the PMI president, Nigeria chapter, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming delegates from across the world as they join us in September for the in-person event. The profession is at an exciting point as governments gear to build back better and what better place than a centrepiece event like the Africa Conference to have a dialogue.”

Every year, the PMI Africa conference attracts dozens of speakers who bring distinct, valuable and unique conversations, providing education to drive the future of the profession.

In this regard, PMI has announced a call for proposals from speakers interested in sharing the stage with international experts, noting that proposals can be submitted via the link pmiafricaconference.com/call-for-papers, while the full line-up of speakers will be announced in the next few weeks.