Capacity building has been identified as a major catalyst in addressing infrastructural and procedural gaps in Nigeria’s procurement system.
The Program Coordinator, Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement Centre of Excellence (SPESSECE), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Dr. Abdullahi Muhammad, made this known during the closing ceremony of a three-week capacity building programme held in Kano.
Dr. Muhammad explained that the training was designed to equip participants with modern skills required to achieve value for money in procurement processes.
According to him, the project seeks to address loopholes in public sector procurement while also providing opportunities for a fraction of unemployed youths.
He noted that the Federal Government, in collaboration with the World Bank, has made significant investments in modern procurement practices, stressing the need for participants to apply the knowledge gained.
“The first phase of the SPESSECE programmes is completely free, but after June 2026 anything can happen. I therefore urge participants to take advantage of upcoming environmental and social training scheduled for December 2025,”
Also speaking, tbe executive director Ecobalance Academy, Dr. Haruna Mani, expressed optimism that the partnership would yield long-term positive results, describing the Kano programme as the first advanced training under SPESSECE.
Some participants, including Hamisu Lawan and Saminu Salisu, commended the initiative, describing the training as timely and impactful.
They pledged to put the knowledge acquired into practice to enhance procurement standards across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The training, tagged Executive Short Courses in Procurement Management, Sustainable Environmental Studies and Social Development Studies, was organised by SPESSECE ABU Zaria in partnership with Ecobalance Academy.