Inside  IMC-Nigeria’s Elite Gatekeeping Process

By Ugo Aliogo

In the crowded world of professional associations, titles and certifications abound. But for the Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria (IMC-Nigeria), the statutory body that confers the Certified Management Consultant (CMC) designation, the real question is not simply who gets in, but who decides who gets in.

That question leads to the Institute’s inner circle: a roster of seasoned practitioners, academics, diplomats, and traditional leaders whose professional pedigrees span the globe. It also leads into the dry but decisive pages of the Institute’s constitution and bylaws, where the rules about admission review are codified.

And, as it turns out, those rules and the people they empower are exactly what give the IMC’s admissions process both national and international credibility.

The Rulebook: Where Reviewer Power Lies

The IMC-Nigeria Constitution & By-laws make no secret of where the gatekeeping power lies.
Section 8, blunt in its wording, reads: “The Executive Committee shall review the eligibility of candidates periodically and recommend admissions to the Governing Council.”

This is not an ad hoc screening panel cobbled together as needed; it is the apex operational body of the Institute, comprising its President/Chair, Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, Director-General, and other elected officers. The same bylaws establish the Membership Committee, which “looks into issues of membership admissions and retention,” feeding its recommendations to the Executive Committee. The Accreditation Commission, meanwhile, is designed to include senior representatives from management consulting firms, academic institutions, major corporations, and even government ministries, embedding cross-sectoral expertise into the Institute’s governance.

The key procedural point is this: applications are reviewed at the highest level of leadership, then endorsed by the Governing Council. The Council is itself populated by Fellows (FIMC) and Certified Management Consultants (CMC) of standing.

An Internationally Audited Process

The Institute’s gatekeeping goes far beyond a simple internal procedure. As a Full Member of the International Council of Management Consulting Institutes (ICMCI), widely known as CMC-Global, IMC-Nigeria connects to a global network that oversees management consulting institutes worldwide. Since joining in 1987, Nigeria has been one of the continent’s longest-standing members, a status that carries both prestige and responsibility.

Membership in ICMCI brings with it a set of clear obligations. According to the CMC Certification Scheme Manual, which aligns with the rigorous ISO/IEC 17024 standards, member institutes must ensure that the committees making certification and membership decisions are predominantly composed of Certified Management Consultants (CMCs). These decision-makers are required not only to be skilled and knowledgeable in the certification process but also to maintain independence from any training the applicant may have received. To guarantee these standards are upheld, ICMCI conducts quality assurance reviews, carefully assessing each institute’s compliance with these foundational rules.

IMC-Nigeria’s membership review panels, in line with international regulations, must be chaired by credentialed consultants who meet established global standards. To comply with the organization’s bylaws, the selection panels must consist of internationally recognized experts.

Further strengthening this claim is IMC-Nigeria’s listing on the ISO 20700 Accredited IMCs register, the international guideline for management consultancy services. This listing confirms the Institute’s alignment with globally recognised best practices for consulting and for those who certify consultants.

Importantly, because IMC-Nigeria is part of the ICMCI system, its review panels and decision-makers are expected to be drawn from the top tier of credentialed consultants; experts certified to an international benchmark. That is why the names in its governance and officer lists carry the CMC suffix in addition to the Fellow grade (FIMC). The bylaws place the approval in their hands; the global rules insist those hands belong to competent CMCs.

There is another layer that signals expertise: the institute’s own Accreditation Commission is defined in the bylaws as a body that includes representatives from management consulting firms, training organizations, business and technical institutions, major corporations, educational institutions, and even government departments, again, a cross-section of senior figures in and around the profession. While the commission’s remit is broader than member admissions, its composition reinforces a pattern: when IMC-Nigeria builds panels, it pulls from recognized, sector-spanning experience.

Men and Women Behind the Mandate

Because the bylaws put the review process in the hands of the Executive Committee, and the Governing Council signs off on admissions, the individuals occupying those seats are, in effect, the Institute’s ultimate gatekeepers. Their public records tell a story of deep national and international experience.

Prof. Ukertor Gabriel Moti is President/Chair. He is a distinguished Nigerian academic and university administrator whose career spans decades of teaching, leadership, and international engagement. He first came to prominence when he graduated as the best student in Political and Administrative Studies at the University of Port Harcourt in 1982, followed by another best-graduate distinction with a Master of Public Administration from the University of Lagos in 1985. By 1993, he had earned a Ph.D. in Public Administration from the University of Benin, cementing his place among the nation’s foremost scholars in the field.

At the University of Abuja, Professor Moti has held several significant leadership positions, including Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences, Director of the Centre for Corruption Studies, and now Dean of the Postgraduate School. In January 2025, he was appointed Director of the Abuja Leadership Centre, a TETFund Centre of Excellence in Leadership and Public Governance. His influence extends well beyond Nigeria, as he serves as Co-Chair of the Taskforce on Public Administration Research Capacities in Africa, participates actively in the International Commission on the Accreditation of Public Administration Education and Training Programs in Brussels, and has presented scholarly work in more than thirty countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas.

A prolific writer and editor, Professor Moti has published over 45 peer-reviewed articles, seven book chapters, and is the Chief Editor of the African Journal of Public Administration and Management. He is a Fellow of multiple professional bodies, including the Certified Public Administrators of England and Wales and the Institute of Management Consultants. His earlier career included service as Special Assistant and Speech Writer to the Benue State Governor between 1992 and 1993, and a teaching stint at Benue State University before joining the University of Abuja in 2004.

Working alongside him at the helm is Prof. David Iornem, the Director-General and the person named by ICMCI as IMC Nigeria’s “Head Staff Person.” Iornem runs the secretariat that processes applications, and his career, like Moti’s, has moved fluidly between academia, politics, corporate leadership, and international consulting. A Professor of Management Sciences, he is widely recognised for having trained more than 16,000 managers in Nigeria over the course of his career. His teaching and advisory work have taken him to institutions such as Kaduna Polytechnic, Bayero University, and Ahmadu Bello University, while his consultancy expertise has been sought by both public agencies and private corporations.

He has also held senior corporate positions with Unilever Nigeria, Nigerian Breweries, and Lipton of Nigeria, and played an active role in Nigeria’s political life as a member of the 1988–1989 Constituent Assembly, acting Senator, and National Publicity Secretary of the Social Democratic Party. His intellectual influence extends internationally; he co-authored a book on management consulting published by Kogan Page in the United Kingdom for the International Council of Management Consulting Institutes. Professor Iornem’s educational credentials are extensive and global, including executive programmes at Harvard Business School, MIT, Wharton, and the Edinburgh Business School, alongside numerous qualifications in marketing, digital communication, and education. His work now combines leadership in IMC-Nigeria with advisory roles at institutions such as St. Clements Swiss Private University.

Adding a distinct blend of scholarship and diplomacy to this leadership circle is Professor IyorwueseHagher, a Trustee/Delegate whose life story reflects an enduring commitment to social transformation. Born on 25 June 1949 in Kasar, Benue State, he earned his BA in English in 1974, MA in 1977, and Ph.D. in Drama in 1981 from Ahmadu Bello University. By 1990, he had become a professor, pioneering the use of theatre and drama for community development and social change. His research into the Tiv “Kwagh-Hir” puppet theatre remains a landmark in African performance studies.

Hagher’s career has never been confined to academia. Elected Senator in 1983, he served as Deputy Chief Whip, and later became a member of the 1994–1995 Constitutional Conference. His ministerial appointments included serving as Minister of State for Power and Steel and Minister of State for Health. He went on to represent Nigeria abroad, serving as Ambassador to Mexico from 2003 to 2008 and High Commissioner to Canada from 2008 to 2012, where he used cultural diplomacy to strengthen bilateral relations.

Beyond politics and diplomacy, Hagher has founded the Benue State Arts Council, the Leadership Institute Nigeria, and the African Leadership Institute in the United States. He has served as Pro-Chancellor of AfeBabalola University and was a presidential aspirant under the Social Democratic Party in 2019. His many honors include the national award of Officer of the Order of the Niger and the Nigerians in Diaspora Integrity Ambassador Award. In 2024, marking his seventy-fifth birthday, he launched three new books, including Leadership: Leading Africa Out of Chaos, furthering his lifelong mission of advocating for principled and transformative leadership.

From the world of traditional authority comes Dr. Sani MuhammaduBako III, a Governing Council Member and First-Class Emir of New Karshi. Holding a PhD in Political Economy & Development Studies from the University of Abuja, he has also served in education governance roles. His combination of traditional leadership and academic scholarship underscores the Institute’s reach into multiple spheres of Nigerian public life.

The academic strength of the Governing Council is further bolstered by figures such as Prof. M.U. Ofili, a senior academic with a record in management education whose expertise informs the Council’s decision-making; Prof. Dennis A. Ityavyar, a professor and former State Commissioner whose public service and academic career blend governance experience with subject-matter authority; and Dr. Gabriel A. Gundu, a management consultant active in the ISO 20700-aligned professional environment, ensuring adherence to international consulting standards. Supporting these roles at the Executive Committee level are Dr. Umar Farouk Galadima and Dr. Ephraim Iroakazi, Vice Presidents who directly participate in eligibility reviews as stipulated by the bylaws. Also integral to the process are Secretary Amos Apaa and Treasurer Dr. John I. Ogbu, whose functional duties differ but whose positions place them on the Executive Committee, the very body charged with periodic candidate eligibility review.

Alongside these men is a group of equally accomplished women whose influence within the Institute is both visible and decisive. Several occupy seats on the Governing Council, where they play an active role in shaping admissions decisions. Like their male counterparts, they hold both the Fellow (FIMC) and Certified Management Consultant (CMC) credentials — qualifications that signal not only senior standing within the profession but also compliance with rigorous international certification requirements.

Among them is Mrs. Edna Mogekwu, FIMC, CMC, whose career in corporate leadership and consultancy has seen her guide organisations through strategic transformation initiatives while mentoring younger professionals in management best practices. Her governance role within the Council reflects both her operational expertise and her ability to apply global consulting standards in a Nigerian context. Equally prominent is Dr. (Mrs) N. Chukuigwe, FIMC, CMC, an academic and consultant whose doctoral research and professional advisory work intersect in the areas of organisational performance and leadership development. She brings to the Council a depth of analytical skill, blending scholarly insight with the practical realities of consulting engagements.

Mrs. Remi Oyewole-Makele, FIMC, CMC, is another influential voice in the Council’s deliberations. Known for her work in business development and management training, she has contributed significantly to capacity building across industries, ensuring that the next generation of managers and consultants are equipped with both technical competence and ethical grounding. From the realm of both business and traditional leadership comes Princess Adesola A. Elegbede, FIMC, CMC, whose career combines entrepreneurial ventures with advisory roles in governance and community development. Her presence on the Council underscores the Institute’s commitment to drawing from diverse professional backgrounds.

Dr. KarmelAndzenge, FIMC, CMC, adds an academic and research-driven dimension to the group, with expertise that aligns closely with the ISO 20700 international guidelines on consulting. Her contributions help ensure that IMC-Nigeria’s admission and review processes remain consistent with global standards. Completing this formidable cohort is Mrs. Otunba O.A. Osibogun, FIMC, CMC, whose career spans executive management, strategic consulting, and advocacy for professional excellence in service delivery. Her experience across sectors allows her to evaluate applicants not just by qualifications on paper, but by proven ability to meet the profession’s highest expectations.

Together, the men and women behind the mandate form a leadership core that blends scholarship, governance experience, corporate acumen, diplomatic service, traditional authority, and entrepreneurial vision. This mix of backgrounds not only strengthens the Institute’s admissions process but also reinforces its commitment to upholding the highest professional standards in Nigerian and international management consulting. 

Why This Matters

The credibility of any professional association depends fundamentally on the calibre of its members. This is especially true in management consulting, where clients may entrust millions of naira or dollars based on the advice given. The stakes could hardly be higher. Were it possible for anyone to simply pay a fee and claim a respected designation, the value of that credential would quickly erode.

IMC-Nigeria’s governance model has been carefully designed to prevent such a decline. At the structural level, the Executive Committee rigorously reviews candidate eligibility, with their recommendations then passing to the Governing Council for final approval. Both bodies are made up of seasoned leaders who bring extensive credentials and experience to the process.

Beyond structure, there are credential safeguards as well: those reviewing applications are themselves predominantly Certified Management Consultants, holding qualifications recognized globally through ICMCI. This ensures that decisions are made by peers who truly understand what meeting high professional standards entails.

Layered on top of these internal checks is international oversight. IMC-Nigeria’s status as a Full Member of ICMCI and its listing as an ISO 20700-accredited institute subject it to regular external quality audits, reinforcing the Institute’s commitment to maintaining the integrity and trustworthiness of its certification.

A System Designed for Peer Review
In practice, this means that a would-be member’s application might be read by a professor of public administration, a former ambassador, a first-class emir, a career consultant, and a seasoned corporate leader, before being endorsed by an internationally certified council.

The logic is simple: only those who have themselves met high standards should be allowed to confer them. It is a logic embedded in the ICMCI’s global framework, in ISO’s guidelines for consultancy services, and in the IMC’s own constitution.

Credibility by Design
It is tempting, in a cynical age, to see professional titles as decorative rather than substantive. But the architecture of IMC-Nigeria’s admissions process, the calibre of the men and women who run it, and the binding requirements of its international affiliations combine to make a compelling case that those who judge Nigeria’s management consultants are themselves national and international experts.

From the bylaws’ plain statement that the Executive Committee reviews eligibility, to the global requirement that such reviewers be predominantly Certified Management Consultants, to the public record of who these reviewers actually are, the evidence is consistent: the gatekeepers have themselves been tested, recognised, and, in many cases, honoured at home and abroad.

For Nigeria’s consulting profession, that matters. It means the letters “FIMC” and “CMC” are not merely ink on a business card. They are the visible result of a process designed, by structure and by statute, to ensure that those who wear them have been assessed and admitted by their peers at the very top of the field.