In a bold step towards revolutionizing the nation’s procurement system, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) officially launched the Nigeria Procurement Certification Portal on Tuesday at the UBEC Digital Hub in Kado Kuchi, Abuja. The event, which marks a new chapter in capacity building for procurement professionals across both public and private sectors, was presided over by the Director-General of the BPP, Dr. Adebowale A. Adedokun, MCIPS, ACFE.
In his address, Dr. Adedokun emphasized that the new initiative seeks to consolidate past efforts to create a more efficient and effective procurement regime in Nigeria. “Today marks the beginning of consolidating on all the past efforts toward having an efficient and effective procurement regime in our country through a coordinated and strategic capacity-building programme,” he stated.
He highlighted the critical need for Nigeria to restructure its procurement systems to keep pace with global trends, especially as the country advances infrastructure development under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. “While other nations are evolving their procurement systems with technology and innovation, Nigeria has maintained the same structure for over 20 years,” he said, stressing the drawbacks of a ‘one-cap-fits-all’ approach in procurement.
Referencing the Public Procurement Act of 2007, the DG underscored the BPP’s role in setting standards, developing legal frameworks, monitoring procurement practices, and strengthening institutional capacity. He revealed that the newly launched certification programme is the beginning of a consolidated and strategic approach to equip over 7,000 procurement officers and professionals from across the country, including graduates from six Centres of Excellence (CoEs) and international participants from other African countries.
“This initiative is not just for the federal level,” Dr. Adedokun added, “We are working closely with state and local governments to harmonize efforts and extend the impact of this programme.”
The certification portal, he noted, will provide access to comprehensive training, skill development, and sector-specific expertise. Partnerships with professional bodies are already underway to match the expertise of the private sector, reduce wastage, enhance turnaround times, and foster job creation.
Dr. Adedokun also mentioned that the programme aligns with Affirmative Procurement initiatives, incorporating women and youth-focused strategies to ensure inclusivity. He expressed optimism that the model would be adopted by other developing nations, generating foreign exchange for Nigeria.
In closing, he thanked stakeholders for their continuous support and reaffirmed his commitment to delivering value to Nigerians. “We will not fail you. Nigeria will get value at the end of the day,” he concluded.
The launch of the Nigeria Procurement Certification Portal represents a significant milestone in the BPP’s efforts to professionalize procurement, drive transparency, and promote sustainable economic development in the country.
