Nigeria’s procurement sector needs tougher ethical standards, stronger institutional ties and sharper professional training if public spending is to deliver better value, according to leaders at a high-level roundtable in Abuja.
The Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply and the Bureau of Public Procurement made the case at “The Great Conversation – Executive Roundtable”, held on Thursday at the Abuja Continental Hotel, where procurement executives, polic...
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ymakers and industry figures discussed the future of supply management in Nigeria and beyond.
Chukwudi Uche, CIPS Nigeria country director, said procurement has moved far beyond a back-office role and is now central to national development, accountability, risk control and supply chain resilience. He argued that professionals in the field are increasingly expected to act as strategic advisers rather than simply administrators.
But, he said, the profession still faces gaps in strategic sourcing, data analysis, digital transformation and stakeholder management, while procurement leaders remain underrepresented in senior decision-making.
The roundtable, he added, was intended to create space for frank discussion on the structural and capability weaknesses that still shape the sector.
Adebowale Adedokun, director-general of the BPP, said ethical procurement had become even more important as Nigeria continues to spend heavily on roads, hospitals and medical equipment. He said professional bodies such as CIPS can help government strengthen oversight, reduce waste and prevent counterfeit goods and unqualified contractors from entering the system.
He also said the government was working to narrow the gap between public- and private-sector procurement practice, arguing that businesses dealing with the state should answer not only to regulators but also to professional standards.
Adedokun disclosed plans to expand procurement education and ethics training into secondary schools and universities, alongside mentorship and career guidance schemes for young people. He said the aim is to build a new generation of procurement specialists trained in sustainable and ethical practice from undergraduate level through to postgraduate study.
The event also marked the presentation of a CIPS Ethical Procurement and Supply Award to MEBS Global for what the organisers described as its commitment to transparency, accountability and professional excellence across its logistics and supply chain work.
Dr Bola Afolabi received a Lifetime Membership Award for his contribution to procurement reform and professional development. Organisers hailed him as a pioneer whose career has influenced procurement practice in Nigeria, across Africa and globally. He was described as the first African Council Member, the first non-European Vice President and the first person of colour to serve as Global President of CIPS.
The gathering also highlighted the role of CIPS global chief executive Ben Farrell, who took up the post in October 2024 and has been pushing discussions on artificial intelligence, ESG leadership and procurement’s wider role in economic resilience.
Source: Noah Wire Services
