The Director General Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Mamman Ahmadu, has appreciates the World Bank project on procurement sector in the area of capacity building and funding of Sustainable Procurement, Environment and Social Standards (SPESSE). The DG said development of the procurement sector is a pointer to sustainable procurement process and viable economic development.
The DG made this known during the Mid-Term Review of Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standard Enhancement Project (SPESSE) Project when the World Bank delegation had audience with the management of the Bureau and other stakeholders on the project in the BPP.
Mamman Ahmadu said, the development of the certification content is ongoing adding that, CIPS, UK has been engaged for that purpose. Also, the Bureau would work with the Centres of Excellence to develop and deploy the local content of the certification course.
The Director General said, the procurement process for the development of the Certification Portal has just commenced and the Portal will be ready for launch in the first quarter, 2024.
The DG requested for the extension of time for the project to enable it complete the project having had some progress and challenges in the implementation.
Earlier, the National Coordinator and representative of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Dr. Joshua Atah said, the project is a capacity-building project in Sustainable Procurement, Environment and Social Standards (SPESSE) courses and needs longer time to achieve. Adding that, the six Centres of Excellence were selected on merit.
He said, information was sent to universities to start giving admission in Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standard Courses, adding that, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) was informed, along with National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) offices. He said, Nigeria will be expecting to see graduates with such courses in the next Four (4) years. Also, that NUC is working with the Centres of Excellence to commence PHD programmes in Sustainable Procurement, Environment and Social Standards.
He advised all stakeholders to work hard to achieve this project.
Representatives from Four (4) out of Six (6) Centres of Excellence gave vivid progress reports of the SPESSE Project and how the programme is impacting positively on the society, having been running short courses on the Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards, also, running Post Graduate Diplomas and Masters Courses. They thanked the management of the Bureau, and the World Bank for the project and sought for more supports.
The Senior Public Sector Specialist and Task Team Leader for the World Bank project, Mr. Ikechukwu John Nweje, having heard the progresses made and challenges encountered in the implementation of the project, said, his team will give report to the manager of the Bank for a way forward, adding that, the scarce resources are competing vigorously amongst other projects. Also, he appealed for speedy implementation of the project in view of the closing date as stated in the contract agreement.
*Janet McDickson*
DD, Information/Head Media
BPP
