ABU moves to strengthen collaboration with Bureau of Public Procurement
Ahmadu Bello University has presented a proposal to the Bureau of Public Procurement as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration between both organisations.
This is on the expectation that working together they can build on the achievements made so far and make more meaningful contributions to the professionalisation and transformation of public procurement in Nigeria.
Making this known was the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Adamu Ahmed, when he led a high-level delegation on courtesy visit to the Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement, Dr Adebowale A Adedokun, in Abuja on Tuesday, 3rd November, 2026.
He said the university considered it important to formalise its longstanding relationship with the Bureau through a memorandum of understanding that would provide a sustainable framework for cooperation and ensure continuity.
Prof Ahmed also said the university remained a dependable partner of the Bureau and it looked forward to strengthening the relationship and contributing to the realisation of the Bureau’s vision.
In furtherance of this commitment, according to him, the university developed a proposal outlining opportunities for deepening collaboration between both organisations.
For example, this included the establishment of a jointly supported Executive Education Programme in Public Procurement hosted by the university’s Public Procurement Research Centre (PPRC), he said.
The programme, he also said, was intended to complement existing professional certification initiatives by developing the strategic, managerial and leadership capacities of senior procurement practitioners.
The Vice-Chancellor listed other proposed areas that included integrating the PPRC into the sustainability framework of the ABU’s World Bank-supported SPESSE initiative and expanding regional training and capacity development.
It also included supporting the implementation of procurement reforms and e-Government Procurement, undertaking, and developing appropriate training infrastructure.
The Vice-Chancellor particularly acknowledged the Bureau’s invaluable contribution to the development of the university SPESSE programme.
This is especially its involvement in designing the academic curriculum and developing as well as delivering the train-the-trainer programmes for both SPESSE and the PPRC, he further said.
According to him, the PPRC had, over the years, trained more than 4,300 procurement practitioners through over 35 programmes, serving participants from federal, state governments, agencies, tertiary institutions and the private sector.
Similarly, he further disclosed that SPESSE trained 3,303 procurement professionals during its first phase (2023-2026).
He explained that since the commencement of its second phase, a further 1,200 procurement personnel had been trained.
The Vice-Chancellor commended the reforms being championed by the Bureau under the leadership of the present Director-General.
The university, according to him, was proud to identify with the reform agenda and remained willing to contribute its academic expertise, institutional experience and training capacity to its successful implementation.
Responding, the Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr Adebowale A Adedokun, appreciated the Vice-Chancellor and members of his entourage for the visit.
Dr Adedokun said he had seen the work going on at the ABU procurement unit, stressing that he wanted the university to be rated the best in procurement programme.
The Director-General also said he would gladly accept ABU’s proposal and set up a small team that would review and sign an agreement.
Adedokun described ABU as the North’s best university that has the pedigree to have a Centre of Excellence. This was because a lots of sacrifices had been made to make it where it is today, he said.
The BPP boss further said ABU’s influence in Nigeria could not be underestimated, and hence the need to take advantage of that and move forward.
Dr Adedokun proposed the introduction of a zero credit unit course on sustainable procurement and expressed readiness to work with the institution in all procurement reforms.
The Vice-Chancellor was in company of the Deputy Vice-chancellor, Administration, Prof Bello Sabo; Registrar; Dr Aliyu Dalha Kankia; and Bursar Malam Yahaya Hussaini.
Others included Centre Leader, Sustainable Procurement Environmental Social Standards and Enhancement Centre of Excellence (SPESSECE), Prof Wisdom Japheth; Director, Public Procurement Research Centre, Dr Muawiya Abubakar; and Special Assistant to the Vice-chancellor, Dr Ibrahim Sani Kaita.
They also included Head of Procurement Unit, Engr Nura Garba; and Public Affairs Directorate’s Senior Information and Protocol Officer, Ahmad Haruna Waziri.
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Public Affairs Directorate,
Office of the Vice-Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (NEWS/AHW&PIC/TKU)
Tuesday, 3rd November, 2026
