The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has said that the ongoing reforms of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are beginning to restore the confidence of the global community in Nigeria, noting that this renewed trust is already reflecting in the country’s growing appeal to foreign professionals.
He said this development explains why individuals from other countries are now choosing to participate in professional courses such as the Professionals’ Certification Programme being conducted in Nigeria.
Senator Shettima made the observation on Thursday during the inaugural Convocation Ceremony of the Professionals’ Certification Programme held at the old banquet hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The Vice President, who was represented at the event by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, described the graduation of the first cohort of certified procurement professionals as a major milestone that shows the firm resolve of the administration to implement the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said, “On this day, we commemorate the 2,100 certified procurement professionals from Nigeria and around the globe. This is far from a trivial accomplishment. It implies that the global community is beginning to have faith in Nigeria’s reform endeavours, the program’s credibility, and the gravity of its content.
“The fact that professionals from foreign countries have elected to participate in this inaugural cohort is a clear indication that Nigeria is no longer satisfied with mediocrity in procurement practices, but is instead consciously establishing itself as a benchmark on the continent and beyond.”
The Vice President recalled that in the past, procurement in Nigeria was largely viewed as an administrative necessity and was often misunderstood, mismanaged and abused.
He said that contrary to that perception, procurement under the current administration is now central to governance, stressing that it determines how public resources are translated into roads, hospitals, schools, security infrastructure and social services across the country.
“When procurement fails, development fails. People are adversely affected when procurement is not documented. The current administration recognises this reality and, motivated by its devotion to the nation, has elected to confront it directly,” he said.
Senator Shettima maintained that for an ambitious country like Nigeria, the prudent, transparent and strategic management of public resources should never be treated as a technical afterthought.
According to him, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, procurement has become the engine room of development and a key driver of national progress.
He said, “It 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.
“This administration understands that truth clearly, which is why public procurement reform occupies a central place in our governance strategy.”
The Vice President also highlighted the role of the Bureau of Public Procurement in the reform process, describing the agency as being at the heart of efforts to strengthen accountability and professionalism in the system.
He said that beyond its regulatory responsibilities, the BPP carries a deeper duty of building a professional, ethical and highly competent procurement workforce, adding that reform cannot be sustained through policy circulars alone.
Addressing the graduands, Senator Shettima reminded them that as pioneers of the programme, they carry a special responsibility as the first set of certified professionals.
He urged them to ensure that their conscience is guided by their certification and that their conduct reflects the values they have been trained to uphold.
“Stewards of value for money and custodians of public trust, you are. In classrooms, clinics, markets, and communities throughout the nation, your decisions will have an impact on lives that may not garner headlines but will be felt,” he said.
“Let your conscience be guided by your certification. Your practice should be defined by integrity. Your compass should be the loyalty of one’s country.”
The Vice President congratulated the Bureau of Public Procurement, the leadership of the SPESSE Project, the World Bank and other development partners, saying the achievement should help strengthen institutions, rebuild public trust and move Nigeria closer to its national aspirations.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Procurement, Senator Olajide Ipinsagba, pledged the continued support of the National Assembly to ensure the sustainability of the Nigeria Procurement Certification Programme.
He urged the graduands to maintain the highest ethical standards and to apply the skills and knowledge acquired through the programme to advance the public procurement system in Nigeria.
The lawmaker noted that the sustainability of the project has laid a solid foundation for a more transparent and progressive public service, where procurement is adopted as a catalyst for national transformation and development.
On his part, the Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, said the Nigeria Procurement Certification Programme, implemented in collaboration with development partners, is designed to strengthen sustainable capacity building and promote a viable procurement culture in Nigeria’s public service.
He said the programme serves as a special purpose vehicle for implementing capacity building initiatives for public procurement execution and for ensuring that officers are equipped with the skills required to achieve the goals and objectives of the Federal Government.
Dr Adedokun also announced that President Tinubu has approved the full deployment of community-based procurement officers across the country as part of measures to align Nigeria’s procurement practices with global standards, best practices and the judicious use of public resources.
Also speaking at the event, the National Project Coordinator, Dr Joshua Attah, presented the history and impact of the Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement Project.
He said Nigeria, through the project, is building a lasting legacy that will positively influence procurement processes in both the public and private sectors.
According to him, the commencement of the programme and the graduation ceremony mark a historic step toward strengthening accountability in public procurement and demonstrate the government’s commitment to transparency and integrity in public service.
He disclosed that the Centres of Excellence in Procurement have so far trained over 40,000 candidates through capacity building programmes, training and assessment, as well as professional certification delivered via digital learning and certification platforms developed by the Bureau of Public Procurement.
For her part, the World Bank’s Chief Procurement Officer, Ms Hiba Tahboub, said the Bank recognises the importance the Federal Government has attached to the programme.
She noted that this commitment is evident in the consistent investment and institutional support given to the procurement function within Nigeria’s public service.
Ms Tahboub urged other African countries to learn from the Nigerian example, saying the initiative has shown how an early vision can be transformed into a structured and credible certification framework for the procurement profession in the public sector.
