The Program Management Improvement and Accountability Act

In his role as senior engineer for the Detroit-based DTE Energy, Macmichael Nwaiwu manages the company's compliance and pipeline integrity programs. Macmichael Nwaiwu is also certified by the Project Management Institute (PMI) as a project management professional.

A study on program management conducted by PMI reported that over a third of the initiatives launched by U.S. government agencies do not meet their target goals causing billions of taxpayer dollars to be mismanaged and, subsequently, wasted annually. Therefore, a well-executed program management practices would greatly increase the success rates of these initiatives. 

In 2016, President Obama signed the Program Management Improvement and Accountability Act (PMIAA) into law. The act aims to raise the efficiency of federal-level initiatives by tapping into the program management experience of the private sector. The legislation was supported and informed by the Project Management Institute. 

PMIAA sets several requirements for many federal agencies, including appointing a program management improvement officer who focuses on management positions and program management policies. The act also expands the career options for program managers at the federal level.

DTE Energy Maintains Commitment to Safety

Macmichael Nwaiwu is an energy industry engineer who holds degrees from the Federal University of Technology and the University of Indiana’s Kelley School of Business. Since 2016, Macmichael Nwaiwu has served as a senior engineer for DTE Energy.

A Detroit-based energy firm, DTE Energy provides electrical and natural gas services to the state of Michigan. The firm also operates several subsidiaries in the energy sector that range from power and industrial projects to natural gas pipelines and energy trading. 

As one of the largest corporations in Michigan, DTE maintains a commitment to safety and infrastructure investment. Currently, the firm is working to replace and modernize over 100 miles of pipeline, while also maintaining a tree trimming service to avoid power outages caused by downed limbs. Moreover, DTE performs over 300,000 safety inspections annually and regularly inspects over 10,000 miles of pipeline. 

For further information on safety initiatives at DTE Energy, visit www.newlook.dteenergy.com.

Nigerian Central Bank Stalled by Political Deadlock

An accomplished engineer and project manager, Macmichael Nwaiwu brings nearly a decade of experience to his current position as the lead engineer for DTE Energy in Detroit, Michigan. A native of Nigeria, Macmichael Nwaiwu maintains an interest in the politics of his home country.

Nigeria’s economic indicators appear to be moving in a positive direction, but unfortunately the same cannot be said for the country’s primary body responsible for monetary policy, the Central Bank of Nigeria. The Central Bank has not been able to convene for nearly two years, thanks to a series of retirements and resignations from the Bank's board and a political deadlock that is keeping new board members from being appointed.

According to Central Bank rules, the entity cannot meet unless it has enough board members present to form a quorum. However, the nominations of the five additional members required to form that quorum are being hindered by the Nigerian senate as part of its dispute with the current president, Muhammadu Buhari. As a result, the relatively high interest rate of 14 percent set by the Central Bank in 2016 has not been changed.

In March 2018, the Senate finally announced it would begin vetting the nominees, leading observers to predict that the political gridlock would ease and the Central Bank would be able to convene within a few months.