The Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, has commended the ongoing reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, noting that they are beginning to restore global confidence in the country.
Speaking at the inaugural Convocation Ceremony of the Professionals’ Certification Programme held at the Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, VP Shettima highlighted that the participation of foreign professionals in the programme underscores the international recognition of Nigeria’s reform efforts.
Represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, the Vice President described the certification of the first cohort of 2,100 procurement professionals as a milestone in implementing the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He stated, “The fact that professionals from foreign countries have elected to participate in this inaugural cohort clearly indicates that Nigeria is no longer satisfied with mediocrity in procurement practices. Instead, we are consciously positioning ourselves as a benchmark on the continent and beyond.”
VP Shettima recalled that procurement in Nigeria was once viewed as a mere administrative necessity and often mismanaged. Under the current administration, however, procurement has become central to governance, directly influencing the quality of public infrastructure, healthcare, education, and social services.
“When procurement fails, development fails. People are adversely affected when public resources are mismanaged. The current administration recognises this reality and has elected to confront it directly,” he added.
He emphasized that prudent, transparent, and strategic management of public resources is at the heart of Nigeria’s development agenda. “Procurement shapes the quality of our roads and railways, the resilience of our healthcare system, the reach of our schools and universities, and ultimately, the confidence citizens place in their government,” he said.
VP Shettima urged the graduands to uphold their responsibilities as “stewards of value for money and custodians of public trust,” emphasizing integrity, professional ethics, and loyalty to the nation as guiding principles in their practice.
He congratulated the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), the leadership of the SPESSE Project, the World Bank, and Nigeria’s development partners, stressing that the milestone strengthens institutions, restores public trust, and brings the country closer to its development aspirations.
Senator Olajide Ipinsagba, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Procurement, pledged the National Assembly’s support for the sustainability of the programme and urged graduands to apply their skills and uphold ethical standards to transform Nigeria’s public procurement system.
Dr Adebowale Adedokun, Director General of BPP, noted that the programme, implemented with development partners, is designed to build sustainable capacity and nurture a professional procurement culture in Nigeria’s public service. He also announced President Tinubu’s approval for the nationwide deployment of community-based procurement officers to align with global best practices.
Dr Joshua Attah, National Project Coordinator for the SPESSE Project, described the programme and convocation as historic steps in enhancing accountability, transparency, and integrity in public procurement, with over 40,000 candidates already trained in capacity-building initiatives through BPP’s digital platforms.
World Bank Chief Procurement Officer, Ms Hiba Tahboub, praised the Federal Government’s commitment to professionalizing public procurement and encouraged other African nations to adopt Nigeria’s structured approach to certification.
