The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has expressed its willingness to work with Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) on a proposed Centre of Excellence in Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards, an initiative aimed at strengthening professional capacity, promoting evidence-based research and making procurement education more practical in Nigeria.
The Director-General of BPP, Dr. Adebowale A. Adedokun, FCIPS, made this known during a courtesy visit by a delegation from Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), led by its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sa’adatu Liman, to the BPP Headquarters in Abuja.
In his welcome address, Dr. Adedokun commended the university management for its efforts in strengthening academic standards, improving institutional accountability, and promoting practical learning through partnerships with government agencies and institutions. He described the university’s proposal as timely and aligned with BPP’s mandate to build procurement capacity across Nigeria.
He noted that the growing demand for postgraduate education and professional training in procurement makes it imperative for universities to produce graduates with the technical knowledge and practical skills needed by both the public and private sectors.
Dr. Adedokun said effective collaboration between academic institutions and professional regulatory bodies would help close the gap between theory and practice, while ensuring that procurement professionals are properly prepared for the demands of the workplace.
The Director-General urged the university to take advantage of BPP’s free online procurement training and certification programme, particularly for final-year students. He suggested that NSUK consider introducing a zero-credit procurement course to enable every graduating student to have a foundational knowledge of procurement before leaving the university.
He further encouraged the university to make its postgraduate and professional programmes more industry-relevant, including curriculum review, adjunct lecturing by BPP experts, and practice-oriented programmes that reflect the needs of the procurement profession. He also stressed the importance of research collaboration to provide empirical evidence for procurement reforms.
The Vice-Chancellor of NSUK, Prof. Sa’adatu Liman, welcomed BPP’s response and reaffirmed the university’s commitment to the partnership. She described the university’s plan for a “one degree, one certificate, one enterprise” model to equip students with skills and entrepreneurial capacity, adding that it would review the zero-credit course suggestion and continue engaging certification bodies and industry stakeholders.
Presenting the university’s proposal, the Vice-Chancellor explained that the proposed Centre of Excellence would provide a specialised platform for procurement education, professional development, research and training in environmental and social standards.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to further examine the proposed partnership and develop a practical framework for its implementation.
Signed:
Ngozi C. Anyaelezu
Ag. Head, Public Relations
Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP)
October 21, 2026.
