The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has urged public sector procurement leaders to adopt strategic thinking, innovation, and effective leadership to drive reforms and improve service delivery.
Dr Adebowale Adedokun, Director-General of BPP, made this call in a statement issued in Abuja by Ijeoma Chijoke-Adindu, Head of Information and Public Relations.
Adedokun spoke at the Public Sector Procurement Leaders’ Forum, organised with Harley Reed in Abuja, themed “Leadership as the Cornerstone of Procurement Reform.”
Represented by Nasir Bello, Director of the Civil Infrastructure Department, the director-general stated that successful procurement reforms require more than strong legal frameworks, policies, and technological platforms.
He emphasised that effective implementation depends largely on the leadership, competence, and commitment of procurement professionals.
He stated that public procurement should shift from an administrative process focused on documentation and contracts to a strategic function that delivers measurable benefits to citizens. Compliance with procurement laws and regulations remains fundamental.
“However, the ultimate measure of success is the extent to which public resources are utilised effectively to meet institutional objectives, deliver quality services and create tangible value for Nigerians.”
The BPP Director-General outlined key responsibilities for effective procurement leaders: leading with integrity, positioning procurement strategically, developing talent, strengthening professional judgment, managing change, and taking responsibility for results.
Adedokun urged procurement professionals to engage actively in institutional planning, including needs identification, priority setting, budget preparation, and evaluating procurement and delivery options. Their early involvement in institutional decision-making would promote better planning, minimise procurement risks, improve efficiency and align procurement outcomes with organisational priorities.
Adedokun reaffirmed BPP’s commitment to ongoing collaboration with partners and stakeholders to advance procurement professionalism, strengthen institutional capacity, and promote transparency, accountability, efficiency, and value for money.
Earlier, Ms Grace Onosode, Country Director of Harley Reed, thanked BPP for maintaining its partnership with the organisation. Onosode described the forum as a valuable platform for knowledge sharing, professional engagement, and practical discussions to strengthen public procurement leadership. She encouraged participants to discuss challenges affecting procurement in their institutions, especially bureaucratic bottlenecks, lengthy approvals, and other constraints.nts.
In his presentation, Mr William Tagoe, CEO of Harley Reed, emphasised the need to align institutional strategies with policies and operational procedures. Procurement processes should be deliberately designed to support broader organisational objectives.
He urged procureHe urged procurement professionals to move beyond routine tasks and adopt a forward-looking approach that anticipates institutional needs, identifies efficiency opportunities, and promotes value creation. It 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.
Tagoe challenged participants to apply knowledge gained at the forum to practical improvements, noting that positive changes in their organisations would measure success.
The interactive session provided participants with
opportunities to share institutional experiences, identify operational challenges and exchange ideas on improving procurement performance.
BPP and Harley Reed urge procurement leaders to adopt strategic thinking and innovation.
The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has urged public sector procurement leaders to adopt strategic thinking, innovation, and effective leadership to drive reforms and improve service delivery.
Dr Adebowale Adedokun, Director-General of BPP, made this call in a statement issued in Abuja by Ijeoma Chijoke-Adindu, Head of Information and Public Relations.
Adedokun spoke at the Public Sector Procurement Leaders’ Forum, organised with Harley Reed in Abuja, themed “Leadership as the Cornerstone of Procurement Reform.”
Represented by Nasir Bello, Director of the Civil Infrastructure Department, the director-general stated that successful procurement reforms require more than strong legal frameworks, policies, and technological platforms.
He emphasised that effective implementation depends largely on the leadership, competence, and commitment of procurement professionals.
He stated that public procurement should shift from an administrative process focused on documentation and contracts to a strategic function that delivers measurable benefits to citizens. Compliance with procurement laws and regulations remains fundamental.
“However, the ultimate measure of success is the extent to which public resources are utilised effectively to meet institutional objectives, deliver quality services and create tangible value for Nigerians.”
The BPP Director-General outlined key responsibilities for effective procurement leaders: leading with integrity, positioning procurement strategically, developing talent, strengthening professional judgment, managing change, and taking responsibility for results.
Adedokun urged procurement professionals to engage actively in institutional planning, including needs identification, priority setting, budget preparation, and evaluating procurement and delivery options. Their early involvement in institutional decision-making would promote better planning, minimise procurement risks, improve efficiency and align procurement outcomes with organisational priorities.
Adedokun reaffirmed BPP’s commitment to ongoing collaboration with partners and stakeholders to advance procurement professionalism, strengthen institutional capacity, and promote transparency, accountability, efficiency, and value for money.
Earlier, Ms Grace Onosode, Country Director of Harley Reed, thanked BPP for maintaining its partnership with the organisation. Onosode described the forum as a valuable platform for knowledge sharing, professional engagement, and practical discussions to strengthen public procurement leadership. She encouraged participants to discuss challenges affecting procurement in their institutions, especially bureaucratic bottlenecks, lengthy approvals, and other constraints.nts.
In his presentation, Mr William Tagoe, CEO of Harley Reed, emphasised the need to align institutional strategies with policies and operational procedures. Procurement processes should be deliberately designed to support broader organisational objectives.
He urged procureHe urged procurement professionals to move beyond routine tasks and adopt a forward-looking approach that anticipates institutional needs, identifies efficiency opportunities, and promotes value creation. It 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.
Tagoe challenged participants to apply knowledge gained at the forum to practical improvements, noting that positive changes in their organisations would measure success.
The interactive session provided participants with
opportunities to share institutional experiences, identify operational challenges and exchange ideas on improving procurement performance.
