The Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement, Dr. Adebowale A. Adedokun, MCIPS, ACFE, has stated that procurement has made a paradigm shift, as the role of procurement is no longer transactional but pragmatic in its approach.
The DG made this remark during the meeting with the centre leaders and the presentation of BPP Node Certification Framework and Portal at the National University Commission (NUC) Conference Centre, Abuja.
Dr. Adebowale encouraged all stakeholders to adequately key into the process of developing a professional procurement entity to enable Nigeria to attain a global procurement standard.
According to the DG, BPP Node Certification Framework and Portal is a structure on the update of development of certification framework; an ideal platform designed to retrieve information and gain knowledge on the mode of operation In this modern era where procurement sparks national development and helps in the growth of every economic sector, SPSSE program will be of much help to redefine capacity building, and indulge on appropriate way of procurement processes of which both private and public sectors become beneficiaries of good procurement practices.
The DG pointed out that Nigeria needs well equipped professionals, and the government must take its rightful place in driving procurement processes. Adding that, BPP has the capacity to conduct procurement and has taken the mandate in the procurement reforms in Nigeria.
The Bureau has engaged with other professional bodies globally for the improvement and advancement of the procurement system.
The Bureau is set to launch the framework on April 30, 2025, to enable the public to understand the value of professionalism in procurement practices.
The World Bank representative, Sunday Osoba, commended BPP and other stakeholders for the effort being made to professionalize procurement.
He stressed that credibility, transparency, integrity, and ethical standards are essential and expected in procurement practice. He said that procurement is important in the SPESSE project, and BPP should give the largest input in the procurement curriculum.
The NUC SPESSE representative, Dr. Peter Tobrise; The senior procurement specialist, Prof. Bola Afolabi and the senior ICT specialist, Nurudeen Medaki, all made a presentation of the prototype of the certification framework and portal.
Prof. Afolabi stated that procurement is susceptible to corruption but requires a high level of discipline to overcome. Certain qualifications must be met, and BPP as a procurement regulatory entity should play an essential role in the certification and delivery of licenses to procurement practitioners.
Signed
Zira Zakka Nagga
Head of Public Relations
7th April, 2025
