The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) is rekindling its partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to drive digital innovation and institutional reforms in the procurement sector.
Director-General Dr. Adebowale A. Adedokun made this known while receiving a team from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). A delegation led by Ms. Elsie G. Altafah, Representative to the President UNDP Nigeria chapter at the BPP office headquarters in Abuja.
He emphasized that innovation and digitization would enhance efficiency, transparency, and service delivery.
This renewed partnership builds on a long-standing collaboration between BPP and UNDP, dating back to 2000. Previous collaborations have yielded significant achievements, and the BPP is poised to leverage this partnership to further improve public procurement processes in Nigeria.
The Director-General highlighted the historical partnership between the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), dating back to 2000. This collaboration led to significant achievements, including:
- Procurement capacity building
- Stakeholder engagements
- Civil Society Organisation (CSOs) workshops
- Professional bodies’ involvement
- Production of jingles, advertisements, and newspapers
- Study tours
The partnership was unfortunately halted due to funding issues or changes in perspectives. The DG’s recollection of this history underscores the potential for renewed collaboration and impact.
The focus on digital innovation and institutional reforms aligns with efforts to modernize the procurement sector and promote good governance. By working together, the BPP and UNDP aim to achieve tangible results and add value to society.
Dr. Adebowale highlighted the importance of procurement reforms in Nigeria, emphasizing the significant impact on the lives of over 220 million Nigerians. He noted that 80% of UNDP’s work involves procurement, making BPP a crucial partner.
The DG outlined various reforms underway, including:
- Digitization of procurement
- Capacity building
- Local framework development for Nigeria First Policy
- Procurement professionalism
- Revising the Procurement Act
- Health sector procurement reform
- M&E and Audit guidelines
- Price Intelligence
- Community-based procurement
- Debarment policy
- Technological management of procurement officers’ careers
- Restructuring/Re-engineering of procurement
- Affirmative procurement for inclusivity
These reforms aim to enhance transparency, efficiency, and inclusivity in public procurement, ultimately driving economic growth and development in Nigeria.
The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale emphasized the need for adequate support to equip the Bureau with infrastructure, such as a monitoring dashboard system, to track procurement status and expenditures across Nigeria.
Mrs. Elsie G. Altafah, representing the UNDP, expressed appreciation for the invitation to collaborate and praise the BPP’s reforms, particularly in digitalization, transparency, and accountability. She highlighted areas where UNDP’s reforms could support BPP’s work, including:
- Structural transformations
- Innovation and digital reforms
- Digital public infrastructure
- Data forecasting
- Accelerating community development
The renewed partnership aims to enhance public procurement processes, promote transparency, and drive development in Nigeria.
Ms. Altafah and Mr. Blessed Chirimuta from the UNDP echoed the importance of inclusivity in the partnership with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP). Key points include:
- Focus on key areas to ensure impactful collaboration.
- Leveraging innovative/digital tools for affirmative procurement.
- Utilizing artificial intelligence and data forecasting to support the Bureau.
- Setting up a BPP team to work with UNDP on terms and framework.
The UNDP representatives emphasized their commitment to sustainable procurement policies and their CIPS accreditation, highlighting their expertise in procurement implementation. This partnership aims to drive meaningful change and support the BPP’s mission.
Signed
Zira Zakka Nagga
Head of PublicRelations (BPP)
25th July 2025
