By Uche Onyeali
President of the Chartered Institute of Nigeria, CIDSAN, Dr. Elijah Ogbuokiri has decried the inadequacy of professionals to handle Nigeria’s developmental challenges, thus leading to escalation of such issues that affect the socio-economic well-being of the country.
Ogbuokiri stated this during a press briefing to highlight activities at the forthcoming second National Conference of the institute slated for November 12 to 14, 2024.
“We have come to the realisation that professionals should handle issues that have to do with development.
“One of the problems in Nigeria now is lack of professionals in many areas. Development study is a very wide area,” he said.
The CIDSAN president disclosed that part of the programmes at the three days conference scheduled to take place at Top Rank Hotels Galaxy, Utako, Abuja, from 9am daily, with theme as ‘Effective and Sustainable Development in an Emerging Economy: Nigerian Experience,’ is the induction of new members, honorary fellowship award and presentation papers.
The keynote speaker the conference is the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, while the chief host is the CIDSAN president, Dr. Ogbuokiri.
On the concept of the institution, Dr. Ogbuokiri said CIDSAN is a professional body established to cater for the developmental needs of professionals to help to in managing some development of this country.
“We have been developing well but not managing our developments well; that is why it appears as if we are not making progress. So the institute charters people after examination and certify them to be professionals in different areas, such as planning, monitoring and evaluation, migration,
diaspora and refugee, gender and women empowerment, entrepreneurship and MSME development, as well as development communication and community issues. These are the five areas we are concentrating to raise people who can represent the country well to manage our development. All depends on what you want to specialise on,” he said.
