The Registrar-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN), Mr. Henry Mbadiwe, has highlighted the urgent need for ethical journalism, strategic project thinking, and responsible communication in a period beset by misinformation and global security issues.
Mbadiwe made this call while delivering a lecture during the DICAN Bi-Annual International Conference 2025, held under the theme “Nigeria’s 4Ds Foreign Policy Strategy Amidst Global Security Challenges, Strategic Misconceptions, and the Age of Disinformation: The Role of Diplomacy, Intelligence and Media in Shaping National and Global Stability.”
The conference brought together key figures from the diplomatic, intelligence, and media communities to reimagine their roles in maintaining peace and cohesion both in Nigeria and globally.
Speaking, the CIPMN boss called for goal setting, stakeholder analysis, resource alignment, and strategic communication to guide national and international initiatives.
“In everything we do, especially in diplomatic and security sectors, we are managing projects. Whether it is a foreign policy rollout or counterterrorism partnership, the tools of project management planning, risk management, and stakeholder engagement are indispensable,” he stated.
Noting that the pen is mightier than the sword, Mbadiwe warned that in Nigeria today, the pen is increasingly being used as a sword or a tool of harm rather than truth.
He recounted personal experiences of being the target of unverified and damaging media reports, noting, “I returned from the UK to serve my country, not to be destroyed by false headlines.”
“The media must remember their sacred role in nation-building. Journalists and media houses must verify, research, and reflect before publishing. Once the pen becomes a sword, it becomes as destructive as any weapon.”
He applauded the DICAN Chairman for his determination in launching the conference, identifying consistency and courage in the face of obstacles as crucial leadership qualities.
