By Dorcas Jonah
Dr Elijah Ogbuokiri, President, Chartered Institute of Development Studies and Administration of Nigeria, (CIDSAN) has decried the inadequacy of professionals to handle Nigeria’s developmental challenges.
Ogbuokiri, who said this at a news conference on Sunday in Abuja, said that the challenges had adversely affected the socio-economic well-being of Nigerians.
He said that the news conference was part of activities to mark the institute’s first National Conference slated for Nov. 12.
“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 said that new members would be inducted and honorary fellowship awarded to some deserving members at the conference.
He said that the conference, which
is scheduled to hold in Abuja, has the theme, ‘Effective and Sustainable Development in an Emerging Economy: Nigerian Experience”.
He said the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr.L Yusuf Sununu, would be the keynote speaker.
According to him, CIDSAN is a professional body established to cater for the developmental needs of professionals to help in managing development in the country.
“We have been developing well but not managing our developments well, that is why it appears as if we are not making progress.
”The institute charters people after examination and certifies them to be professionals in different areas, such as planning, monitoring and evaluation,” he said.
Ogbuokiri said that the institution was concentrating in five thematic areas to raise people that would represent the country to manage development.
He listed the areas as migration, diaspora and refugee, gender and women empowerment, entrepreneurship and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises development, development communication and community issues.
