TUNDE AJIA

15/09/2025

The longer I practice , the more I’m influenced to see it as a people-centred business. Note the terminologies, “People” and “Business”. We are in the business of influencing the outcome of people’s lives through the tasks, projects and programs we supervise. That’s the big picture to always remember.

Project Management Expert | Tunde Delivers Success. Get expert guidance for complex projects.

08/09/2025

Project Managers must never simplify projects so much so that stakeholders lose appreciation for the complexity involved. The end goal of our simplified communication is to aid understanding, not to downplay the complexity on our hands.

Project Management Expert | Tunde Delivers Success. Get expert guidance for complex projects.

01/09/2025

When managing , I’m reminded that problems don’t always require revolutionary solutions.

There’s no point showing off your skills with a Rube Goldberg machine when a mundane solution will work just fine. Plugging the leaks with bubble gum is way better than letting the room flood because you have no waterproof tape.

Project Management Expert | Tunde Delivers Success. Get expert guidance for complex projects.

25/08/2025

Compared to 27 million in 1950, Africa's urban population was 567 million in 2015 and as it stands today in 2025 its estimated to be approximately 1.5 billion.

As Africa’s growth continues to be among the fastest growing globally, there will be more functional cities than nation-states. The only distinguishing factor will be the elements of sustainable governance, political strength and sovereignty.

Project Management Expert | Tunde Delivers Success. Get expert guidance for complex projects.

19/08/2025

The Chongqing East Railway Station

China owes its obsession with megaprojects to its demography. With over 1.4 billion people and a faster than normal urbanisation rate, the country has been shoring up its transport systems for its growing population; of which the Chongqing East Railway Station is a classic example.

Being very conversant of how the megaproject space is filled with cautionary tales of structures that, despite their grandeur, suffered operational dysfunction, urban isolation, and financial under performance. The question for any is not how much hype it generates on day one, but whether it comfortably withstands the new demands of day one thousand. East Railway Station is therefore more than a station; it is a high-stakes test case, a referendum on whether we have truly learned the lessons from a generation of flawed megaprojects.

My article sheds some light on how the biggest plans and most ambitious technological marvels often suffer on the first impact with real world problems. Decades of experience from all over the world show that the reasons for failure are not random, but systemic, and fall into three distinct but connected categories of risk I have referred to as:

The Integration Paradox

The Human Factor

The Viability Gap

I concluded that the success of a mega-station like Chongqing East hinges on a paradigm shift. It must continue to be a dynamic urban ecosystem rather than a stand alone transportation object. The project's goal of "station-city integration" should not just be about co-locating transport modes, but engineering a frictionless flow of people, commerce, and culture.



Link:

Source: express.co.ukChina likes big! From its $11billion Beijing Daxing International Airport, the world’s largest singlebuilding terminal (of 700,000 square metres), its $79billion South–North water diversion project, to the world’s largest single-dish radio telescope called FAST (FiveHundre...

15/08/2025

The most crucial part of your project management plan is the part where you plan for your plan not going according to plan. If this part is missing, then it's unlikely your project plan would be able to stand the test of time, over the life cycle of your project.

What are the first 5 questions to ask yourself before starting a new

Here is an insight into the first 5 questions I ask myself:

1. What solution or service am I providing?

2. What are my biggest risks and constraints?

3. Who are my key stakeholders?

4. How would project performance be measured?

5. What does project success sound or look like to me and others? Define it?

Project Management Expert | Tunde Delivers Success. Get expert guidance for complex projects.

12/08/2025

For years, project managers have labelled stakeholders as obstacles in the way of their work. There's enough evidence to prove it. From stakeholders who hover over projects like choppers, to those who fail to open email updates; only to then chip in unnecessary details midway during the . Project managers have had to deal with the good, the bad and the ugly.

While stakeholders have their flaws, we need them. They are also impacted by the project's outcome as much as we are. From my experience, most of the PM-stakeholder drama is as a result of misalignment between expectations and reality. The only way to minimise this gap is effective . Like all successful ventures, effective communication begins with a plan.

A communication plan? Absolutely!

Receiving feedback from stakeholders, verifying project milestones from an on-site team member, receiving crucial details from a client are all communication intensive. Therefore, having a project communication plan (P*P) is necessary. A P*P must reflect your:

1. Key stakeholders — when to reach them and how.
2. Members of your team.
3. Communication channels — in-person meetings, email, phone calls, video meetings, etc.
4. Meeting schedules and goals.
5. Communication Style - formal or informal.

Project Management Expert | Tunde Delivers Success. Get expert guidance for complex projects.

08/08/2025

With managing major projects today, planning tends to transcend conventional boundaries. It’s an intricate interplay of foresight, precision and anticipation; which necessitates a reorientation of strategies and methodologies, due to the ever evolving landscape of modern-day project management. Therefore, the evolution of expectations from major project managers has become so profound; one where adept orientation to navigate project complexities to succeed is a constant demand.

In my recent article published by the UK’s Major Projects Association, I discussed three components of effective orienteering in major projects with reference to Istanbul’s Grand Airport project. A significant major project which is not just an architectural marvel; but an adept interplay of , and stakeholder engagement.

Project Management Consultant and Strategy Advisor Tunde Ajia shares his insights on how the ever-evolving major project landscape now necessitates a reorientation of strategies and methodologies.

21/07/2025

I recently had the opportunity of being in a global class at Harvard University with course mates from a wide spectrum of industries, drawn from diverse nationalities, all studying the concept of .

The dire need for infrastructure is more pronounced today than ever before, solely because basic infrastructure such as energy, water and all forms of transportation are grossly inadequate for the world's exploding population. Pre-covid, it was impracticable for governments to single handedly fund public infrastructure projects, how much more now?

Introducing PPPs; when they work, they are a huge win. However when they fail, PPPs can be a painful experience for all parties involved. Frail political consensus, lack of tenable and short-termism are a few red flags, in terms of perceived that inhibit private sector participation and infrastructure funding.

As the pursuit for knowledge continues, my understanding of infrastructure has been deepened and my perspective has become broader. I am extremely grateful to be part of all the insightful discussions and valued learning. The hallway laughs, study group huddles, discussions over meals and quiet moments of encouragement. All milestones yes, but most of all vibrant and stimulating engagements with exceptional human beings. People who I am privileged to now call life long friends.

18/07/2025

One of my favorite quotes that I tend to use most often is to "never simplify an endeavour so much that stakeholders lose appreciation for its complexity". Today is one of those days, where I have done the entire opposite, because a real life example plays itself out before the African continent - The recent election of the presidency for the African Development Bank Group

As a guest columnist for Nigeria's prime national newspaper THISDAY, I had gone into detail to explain what that election meant for in terms of current challenges both financial and geopolitical and above all; the risk of making the wrong choice in whom Africa elected.

Development is for all of us and as a continent our for development is only as effective as the leadership available to drive it. As a Nigerian I lent my voice because I strongly believed that Africa's financial future hinged on who chose at the time to support as President. If you are not aware Nigeria happens to be the largest shareholder of the African Development Bank and the outgoing president of the bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina is also a Nigerian; whose legacy we should collectively protect as a nation.

Dr. Samuel Munzele Maimbo in my opinion was the right candidate for Africa because he offered a rare synthesis of technical mastery, institutional insight and pan-African vision. He represented the best of Africa: competent, principled, globally respected and deeply rooted in African development realities. Nigeria at the time backing his candidacy was not charity, it was strategic self-interest. I hope we eventually made the right choice, but now all hands are on deck to support what has chosen.

Here is a link to my opinion piece: https://tundeajia.com/articles/

Africa’s Financial Future Hinges on Nigeria’s Choice: Why Dr. Sam Maimbo Must Lead the AfDB As a guest columnist for Nigeria's prime national newspaper This Day, Tunde goes into detail to explain what the recent Africa's Development Bank presidential election meant for Africa in terms of current...

15/07/2025

How to Make Great Decisions on your Projects

Fresh off the publishing press, the Association for Project Management have recently produced print copies of a series of short guides on key areas of project management. They are all available for purchase as paperback size booklets or downloadable PDF documents.

Mine focuses on and in today’s complex world of
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, it’s essential to have reliable frameworks and tools to guide your decision-making process. Especially when you understand that decision-making is not one monolithic process and is way more than a series of logical steps.

The short guide is a full 31 pages of detailed insight which I had a wonderful time writing, grateful to the Association for Project Management for the consideration and opportunity.

Other short guides in the series and they all happen to sell for £8 each from the APM's bookshop:

How to Make Great Decisions on Your Projects By Tunde Ajia Make Smarter Project Decisions. Avoid Costly Mistakes. Lead with Confidence. In today’s fast-paced project environments, strategy or technical skills alone cannot guarantee your success—the quality of your decisions will. How to Make Gre...

03/06/2025

How to make great decisions on your projects

Fresh off the publishing press, the Association for Project Management, UK have recently produced print copies of a series of short guides on key areas of project management. They are all available for purchase as paperback size booklets or downloadable PDF documents.

Mine focuses on decision making and in today’s complex world of , it’s essential to have reliable frameworks and tools to guide your decision-making process. Especially when you understand that decision-making is not one monolithic process and is way more than a series of logical steps.

The short guide is a full 31 pages of detailed insight which I had a wonderful time writing, grateful to the Association for Project Management for the consideration and opportunity.

https://bookshop.apm.org.uk/products/how-to-make-great-decisions-on-your-projects