Abuja: The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) is set to inaugurate the Nigeria Procurement Certification Programme (NPCP) to standardise and professionalise procurement certification in Nigeria. Dr Adebowale Adedokun, Director-General of BPP, disclosed this at a news briefing in Abuja on Monday. He stated that the programme, developed in partnership with the World Bank, would be inaugurated on Wednesday, April 30, in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Adedokun described the programme as a benchmark for holding procurement officers accountable and challenging the status quo in the knowledge and practice of public procurement in Nigeria. The NPCP aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which emphasizes transparency, accountability, and efficiency in governance. Adedokun highlighted that the programme is a significant milestone in Nigeria’s procurement reform journey, providing a centralised digital platform for training, assessment, and certification of public procurement professionals across both the public and private sectors.
The Director-General noted that the procurement process in Nigeria has undergone modernisation and transformation over the last 20 years. The programme aims to build procurement officers who are experts in various fields such as road construction, ICT-related projects, healthcare, and the implementation of the 2025 budget. The programme’s first phase will focus on Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) with significant projects to enhance their skills and knowledge for faster budget implementation.
Dr Adebowale Adedokun disclosed that 7,000 officers have already enrolled in the first tier of the programme, representing both the public and private sectors. Graduates from institutions like Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and other universities will have the first opportunity to undertake the online procurement capacity development programme. This initiative is designed not to interfere with their daily work schedules, allowing them to acquire and practice knowledge concurrently.
He further emphasized that the Office of the Head of Service has begun reviewing appropriate government circulars to strengthen the programme’s sustainability. Adedokun expressed confidence that the programme could be leveraged as a tool for foreign direct investment, with interest from some sub-Saharan African countries to replicate the programme. He expressed gratitude to the World Bank and the Sustainable Procurement Environment and Social Standards Enhancement Project for their support and collaboration in bringing this initiative to fruition.