By PETER ANOSIKE

The African Institute of Consultants and Profit Managers (AICPM) has reiterated the need for more consultants and profit managers in Nigeria.

Speaking at its annual conference in Lagos, the President of the Institute, Dr Emmanuel Okpako, said that the reason why businesses are collapsing in the country is because of lack of consultants and profit managers.

He said that without proper guidance businesses can hardly survive, let alone succeed, especially in the trying times that the country is in.

According to him, there is no bad businesses but bad management, adding that if those behind the businesses are not backed by people with the requisite knowledge, the businesses might end up becoming waste of energy, resources and time.

He said that it is in that regard that African Institute of Consultants and Profit managers are making a difference.

Speaking further, he said that the purpose of the institute is to train, certify and empower professional skills in various fields of human endeavour.

His words: “The purpose of our institute is to promote professional consultants and profit/business investment managers through training and certification. There is no doubt that with the state of the global economy, succeeding in business has become a herculean task but with professional consultants and profit managers it is doable. That is the reason why we are organizing trainings and seminars for budding business owners and equipping them with the right information, which would enable them to make the right decisions in their businesses, because the first and most important thing needed for any business to succeed is not money but knowledge and our institute has been positioned for this.”

During the conference, many facilitators spoke on various topics like leadership, management, financial accountability and ethical behaviours.

It was also disclosed that members should engage in training programs and mandatory continuous professional development.

Some of the highlights of the conference were award presentations, official appointments and special recognitions as well as formation of AICPM network of consultants and profit managers.