BUREAU OF PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (BPP)
13th November, 2026
PRESS RELEASE
The Director General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale A. Adedokun, FCIPS, has called on public sector procurement leaders to embrace strategic thinking, innovation, effective leadership and teamwork as critical drivers of procurement reforms.
He noted that it was the only way to attain improved public service delivery in Nigeria.
He made the call at the Public Sector Procurement Leaders’ Forum organised in partnership with Harley Reed, held on Thursday in Abuja, with the theme, “Leadership as the Cornerstone of Procurement Reform.”
The Director-General, who was represented by the Director, Civil Infrastructure Department, Engr. Nasir Bello, emphasised that the success of public procurement reforms goes beyond establishing robust legal frameworks, policies and technological platforms, stressing that effective implementation ultimately depends on the leadership, competence and commitment of the people entrusted with the responsibility.
According to him, public procurement must evolve from being viewed merely as an administrative process centred on documentation and contract procedures to becoming a strategic institutional function that delivers measurable benefits to citizens.
He stated: “Compliance with procurement laws and regulations remains fundamental; however, the ultimate measure of success is the extent to which public resources are utilised effectively to meet institutional objectives, deliver quality services and create tangible value for Nigerians.”
Dr. Adedokun identified five critical responsibilities of effective procurement leaders: leading with integrity; positioning procurement as a strategic function; developing people and strengthening professional judgement; managing change effectively; and taking responsibility for results.
He further challenged procurement leaders to become actively involved in institutional planning processes, including needs identification, priority setting, budget preparation and the assessment of appropriate procurement and delivery options, rather than waiting until projects and contracts are ready for advertisement.
He noted that early involvement of procurement professionals in institutional decision-making would promote better planning, minimise procurement risks, improve efficiency and ensure that procurement outcomes align with organisational priorities.
In her remarks, the Country Director of Harley Reed, Ms. Grace Onosode, expressed appreciation to the Bureau for sustaining its partnership with the organisation, describing the forum as an important platform for knowledge sharing, professional engagement and practical discussions on strengthening public procurement leadership.
She encouraged participants to openly discuss the challenges confronting procurement operations in their respective institutions, particularly bureaucratic bottlenecks, lengthy approval processes and other institutional constraints that impede effective procurement delivery.
In his presentation, the Chief Executive Officer of Harley Reed, Mr. William Tagoe, underscored the importance of aligning institutional strategy with policies and operational procedures, noting that procurement processes must be deliberately designed to support broader organisational objectives.
He urged procurement professionals to move beyond routine administrative responsibilities and adopt a forward-looking approach that anticipates institutional needs, identifies opportunities for efficiency and promotes value creation.
“Procurement should not be limited to implementing approved budgets. It must play an active role in anticipating institutional needs, supporting strategic planning and identifying opportunities to create value while ensuring that decisions are transparent, accountable and defensible,” he stated.
Mr. Tagoe further challenged participants to translate the knowledge acquired at the forum into practical institutional improvements, saying that the true success of the engagement would be measured not merely by the quality of discussions but by the positive changes introduced in their respective organisations.
The interactive session provided participants with an opportunity to share institutional experiences, identify operational challenges and exchange ideas on strengthening procurement performance. Discussions also highlighted the importance of people-centred leadership, with emphasis on creating an enabling environment where team members can freely express their views, take responsibility, acknowledge mistakes and collectively develop solutions.
Participants noted that such an approach would foster stronger professional relationships, encourage continuous learning and build more effective procurement teams capable of responding to emerging institutional demands.
The forum brought together Directors and Heads of Procurement Departments, procurement and supply chain professionals, as well as other relevant stakeholders, to explore how effective leadership, strategic thinking and professional collaboration can accelerate ongoing public procurement reforms and improve institutional performance.
The BPP DG reaffirmed the importance of continuous engagement with strategic partners and relevant stakeholders in advancing procurement professionalism, strengthening institutional capacity and entrenching transparency, accountability, efficiency and value for money in public procurement.
Chijioke-Adindu Ijeoma
Head(Information &PublicRelations)
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