Abuja: The National Universities Commission (NUC) has announced that 24,000 Nigerians are set to benefit from a new $65 million funding phase under the World Bank-supported Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement (SPESSE) project. Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, the Executive Secretary of the NUC, made this announcement during the signing of performance contracts for the additional SPESSE financing.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the new funding is an extension of the initial $80 million SPESSE project, which began in 2021. Prof. Ribadu explained that the initiative aims to bolster Nigeria’s capacity in procurement, environmental management, and social standards within both public and private institutions. The project specifically targets the shortage of skilled professionals in these crucial governance areas.
Under the coordination of the NUC and with World Bank support, six centres of excellence have been established across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. These centres are dedicated to providing sustainable capacity building in key sectors and ensuring inclusivity across all regions. The participating universities were selected through a competitive process that evaluated institutional readiness, quality assurance, and sustainability.
Prof. Ribadu emphasized the significance of the contract signing, highlighting it as a commitment to accountability, sustainability, and institutional excellence. The centres have achieved milestones such as developing specialized academic programs, investing in digital learning infrastructure, and enhancing research facilities. Some of these centres have already commenced PhD programs, while others are expected to do so by July 2026.
The new phase of the project targets at least 60 PhD graduates, the enrolment of 60 foreign students, staff internships, and expanded student exchange programs with international institutions. Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), noted that the project had already trained over 2,700 public and private sector officers to enhance procurement competence nationwide. The forthcoming phase will further support the implementation of Nigeria’s electronic procurement system and expand online capacity-building initiatives.
Mr. Ishtiak Siddique, the World Bank Task Team Leader for SPESSE, reported that more than 40,000 participants have been trained under the original project, with over 4,000 certified in procurement, environmental, and social standards. The additional funding will focus on capacity building for federal, state, and local government agencies to amplify development impact, with sustainability being a central theme to ensure the project’s continuity beyond donor support.
Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, reiterated the institutional commitment to enhancing professional capacity within the SPESSE framework, underscoring its importance for national development.