By Fatima Saka
The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has challenged procurement professionals to take active roles in government institutional planning, including needs identification, priority setting and budget preparation, rather than waiting until projects and contracts are ready for advertisement.
The Director-General of BPP, Dr. Adebowale A. Adedokun, said early involvement of procurement experts in institutional decision-making would promote better planning, minimise procurement risks, improve efficiency and ensure that procurement outcomes align with organisational priorities.
The Head of Information and Public Relations, Chijioke-Adindu Ijeoma, disclosed this in a press statement on Friday, November 13, following the Public Sector Procurement Leaders’ Forum organised in partnership with Harley Reed on Thursday in Abuja, with the theme, “Leadership as the Cornerstone of Procurement Reform.”
Adedokun, who was represented by the Director, Civil Infrastructure Department, Engr. Nasir Bello, stressed that public procurement must move beyond administrative processes centred on documentation and contract procedures to become a strategic institutional function that delivers measurable benefits to citizens.
According to him, compliance with procurement laws and regulations remains fundamental, but the ultimate measure of success is the effective utilisation of public resources to achieve institutional objectives, deliver quality services and create tangible value for Nigerians.
He noted that successful procurement reforms depend not only on robust legal frameworks, policies and technological platforms but also on the leadership, competence and commitment of the people responsible for implementation.
The BPP Director-General identified five critical responsibilities of effective procurement leaders: leading with integrity, positioning procurement as a strategic function, developing people and strengthening professional judgement, managing change effectively and taking responsibility for results.
He further urged procurement leaders to embrace strategic thinking, innovation, effective leadership and teamwork as essential drivers of procurement reforms and improved public service delivery.
In her remarks, the Country Director of Harley Reed, Ms. Grace Onosode, appreciated the Bureau for sustaining its partnership with the organisation, describing the forum as an important platform for knowledge sharing, professional engagement and practical discussions on strengthening procurement leadership.
She encouraged participants to openly discuss challenges confronting procurement operations in their respective institutions, particularly bureaucratic bottlenecks, lengthy approval processes and other institutional constraints affecting effective procurement delivery.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Harley Reed, Mr. William Tagoe, emphasised the importance of aligning institutional strategies with policies and operational procedures to ensure procurement processes support broader organisational objectives.
Tagoe urged procurement professionals to move beyond routine administrative responsibilities and adopt a forward-looking approach that anticipates institutional needs, identifies opportunities for efficiency and promotes value creation.
“Procurement should not be limited to implementing approved budgets. It must play an active role in anticipating institutional needs, supporting strategic planning and identifying opportunities to create value while ensuring that decisions are transparent, accountable and defensible,” he said.
He challenged participants to translate the knowledge acquired at the forum into practical institutional improvements, noting that the success of the engagement would be measured by positive changes introduced in their respective organisations.
The interactive session allowed participants to share institutional experiences, identify operational challenges and exchange ideas on strengthening procurement performance.
Discussions also highlighted the importance of people-centred leadership, particularly creating an enabling environment where team members can freely express their views, take responsibility, acknowledge mistakes and collectively develop solutions.
Participants noted that such an approach would strengthen professional relationships, encourage continuous learning and build more effective procurement teams capable of responding to emerging institutional demands.
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The forum brought together directors and heads of procurement departments, procurement and supply chain professionals, as well as other stakeholders to explore how effective leadership, strategic thinking and professional collaboration could accelerate ongoing public procurement reforms.
The BPP Director-General reaffirmed the importance of continuous engagement with strategic partners and stakeholders in advancing procurement professionalism, strengthening institutional capacity and entrenching transparency, accountability, efficiency and value for money in public procurement.
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