By DAYO ADESULU
ILISHAN-REMO, Ogun State — Babcock University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Project Management Institute (PMI) Nigeria in a move aimed at giving its students stronger professional skills and improving their competitiveness in the global job market.
The partnership, signed on August 7, 2026, will provide students with access to professional development opportunities, globally recognised project management certifications and the international community of project management professionals.
The collaboration will also support the establishment of a sustainable PMI Student Club at Babcock University, while encouraging evidence-based project management, thought leadership and regional research.
The university said the partnership is designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and the practical skills increasingly demanded by employers across different industries.
PMI: Partnership Will Expand Global Opportunities for Students
Speaking during the signing ceremony, PMI Africa Head of Community, Mrs Adeola Akande, said the collaboration would help expand student membership across Africa while giving more young people access to globally recognised professional certifications.
According to her, the partnership would also empower aspiring project professionals with skills needed to contribute to innovation, digital transformation and entrepreneurship.
For Babcock students, the relationship with PMI could provide opportunities to build professional networks beyond the university environment and gain exposure to international standards in project management.
The PMI Nigeria President, Arc. (Dr.) Gbolahan Oyelakin, described the agreement as historic, particularly because of the role the proposed student club could play in students’ professional development.
He said PMI student clubs are “special clubs” because they create opportunities for networking, leadership development and access to certification programmes.
One Babcock Student to Attend PMI Programme in Cape Town
As part of the new partnership, PMI also announced an opportunity for one Babcock University student to travel to Cape Town, South Africa, on an all-expense-paid trip to attend an upcoming PMI regional programme later this year.
The opportunity is expected to give the selected student direct exposure to professionals and activities within the international project management community.
For a university seeking to prepare students for an increasingly interconnected labour market, such exposure could provide valuable experience beyond the traditional classroom.
Babcock: ‘We Are About Growing and Building People’
Babcock University President and Vice Chancellor, Prof. Afolarin Ojewole, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, linking it to the institution’s broader commitment to developing people.
“We are about growing and building people, and this is about growing people. Let’s do this,” Ojewole said at the signing ceremony.
The signing took place at the President/Vice Chancellor’s Boardroom and was attended by senior university officials and members of the PMI delegation.
Among the university officials present were Prof. Jonathan Nwosu, Senior Vice President, Academics; Dr. Olaniyi Arije, Vice President, Advancement and Development; Dr. Joseph Agada, Director of Legal Services; and Dr. Joshua Suleiman, Chief of Staff.
The PMI team lead and seven other members of the institute’s delegation also attended the ceremony.
Partnership Supports Babcock’s Global Education Agenda
The university said the partnership aligns with its GRACE mandate, which focuses on producing graduates who are globally relevant, research-focused, Adventist-rooted, competent and entrepreneurial.
The institution sees the agreement as an important step in preparing students for professional opportunities in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.
Beyond certifications, the partnership is expected to encourage students to develop practical project management capabilities that can be applied across sectors, including business, technology, entrepreneurship and other professional fields.
What PMI Certification Could Mean for Students
The Project Management Institute, founded in 1969, describes itself as a leading global authority in project management, with more than 700,000 members across 200 countries.
The organisation has more than 300 local chapters worldwide, including PMI Nigeria, and provides professional development resources, certifications and access to an international network of project professionals.
Among its best-known credentials are the Project Management Professional (PMP®) and Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM®) certifications. PMI also offers specialised credentials covering areas such as agile practices, risk management and construction.
These qualifications are recognised across industries and can help professionals demonstrate specialised project management knowledge when pursuing career opportunities.
For Babcock University students, the new relationship therefore goes beyond a conventional university-industry agreement. It creates a pathway to professional networks, skills development and internationally recognised credentials.
Why the Babcock-PMI Partnership Matters
As employers increasingly seek graduates who can combine academic knowledge with practical, workplace-ready skills, partnerships of this nature can play an important role in preparing young professionals.
The Babcock-PMI agreement could also strengthen students’ exposure to international professional standards at an early stage of their careers.
With the planned PMI Student Club, access to certification opportunities and the possibility of international exposure, the partnership positions project management as an additional pathway through which Babcock students can build their professional profiles.
Ultimately, the university hopes the collaboration will contribute to its goal of producing graduates who are not only academically qualified but also equipped to compete and create opportunities in the global economy.
