Abuja: The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) have agreed to strengthen institutional collaboration, focusing on procurement certification programs and capacity building. This was revealed in a statement signed by Ngozi Anyaelezu, Assistant Chief Information Officer at BPP, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the agreement was reached during a courtesy visit by NOUN’s management, led by its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Uduma Uduma, to the Director-General of BPP, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, in Abuja. The collaboration aims to improve operational synergy and enhance capacity building to support the effective delivery of NOUN’s national educational mandate.
Dr. Adedokun expressed appreciation for Prof. Uduma’s knowledge and vision, affirming the bureau’s commitment to strengthening academic-industry synergy through strategic collaboration with the university. He emphasized that transforming public administration requires equipping the next generation with practical skills and a strong national orientation. He noted that partnership with NOUN aligns with the Federal Government’s efforts to promote homegrown educational platforms and professional certifications under President Bola Tinubu’s Nigeria First Policy.
He further highlighted that the bureau has a capacity-building section with a hybrid Sustainable Procurement Programme, established in collaboration with the National Universities Commission (NUC) and supported by the World Bank. The BPP is ready to partner with NOUN to establish hybrid study centers to further strengthen the Sustainable Public Procurement, Environmental, and Social Standards Enhancement (SPESSE) program approved by the Federal Government.
Prof. Uduma emphasized that partnering with BPP would strengthen the university’s capacity to deliver its mandate. He stressed the university’s commitment to strict adherence to public procurement guidelines, noting that a robust partnership with the regulatory body would streamline procurement processes, eliminate administrative bottlenecks, and prevent project delays. He proposed the establishment and development of procurement certification programs nationwide, leveraging NOUN’s extensive network of study centers.
The two institutions agreed on the need for a framework that aligns NOUN’s expansion drive with public procurement regulations. They stated that such a framework would be critical to the expansion of the university’s digital infrastructure, study centers, and learning resources nationwide.