News Investigators/ The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris has commended the Director-General of Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) for the birth of Procurement Certification Portal to address challenges facing the sector.
Mr Idris gave the commendation during his remarks at the inauguration of the portal on Wednesday in Abuja.
Mr Idris explained that the digital platform developed under the Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement (SPESSE) Programme, is in collaboration with the World Bank.
Mr Idris said the inauguration represents a major milestone in the ongoing transformation of Nigeria’s public procurement system.
He said the development is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, especially its focus on strengthening governance structures to deliver public services more effectively.
“I want to commend the Director-General of the BPP, Adebowale Adedokun, for his visionary leadership, unwavering dedication, and tireless efforts in pushing the frontiers of innovation within Nigeria’s procurement ecosystem.
“The launch of this certification portal is a testament to his bold commitment to deepening reforms and modernising the nation’s procurement processes in line with global best practices.
“The introduction of this digital portal is not just a technological upgrade; it is a transformative tool that addresses some of the most critical challenges in public procurement, such as persistent bottlenecks.
“The bottlenecks include suboptimal procurement practices, insufficiently skilled personnel, and the lack of institutionalized capacity-building frameworks.
“These challenges have long constrained the effective utilisation of public resources and impeded broader economic development in the country,” Idris said.
The minister further explained that by offering structured certification programmes and digital access to training and evaluation, the portal empowers procurement professionals across ministries, departments, and agencies to operate with greater competence, consistency, and integrity.
He emphasised that the certification programme ensures that procurement officers are not just compliant, but qualified and globally competitive.
“As the Minister of Information and National Orientation, I must emphasise the importance of public awareness and stakeholder engagement in driving the success of this reform.
“The citizens of Nigeria must understand that this portal is not just a tool for the government; it is a tool for them to demand better services, expect greater transparency, and hold institutions accountable.
“I therefore urge all relevant agencies and public officers to fully embrace this initiative, and I call on the media, most especially, to help amplify its benefits and monitor its implementation,” he said.
He also acknowledged the strategic partnership and continued support of the World Bank, which according to him, remains a dependable ally in efforts to build a more accountable and efficient public sector.
“This launch is a bold step forward, but it is only the beginning. Let us walk the rest of this journey with courage, with clarity, and with a shared commitment to excellence”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event attracted dignitaries from the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, National Assembly, and some MDAs.
NAN