By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
The Kwara State Government on Friday pledged its commitment to investing in human capital development in the state.
Mr Raheem Abdulbaki, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of the Kwara State Public Procurement Agency stated this in Ilorin while speaking at a Capacity Workshop organized for public procurement officers of the Agency.
He disclosed that Kwara now has 16 of its officers inducted into the Association of Public Procurement Practitioners of Nigeria (APPON).
According to him, an additional eight procurement officers of the Agency were formally inducted during the Association’s National Conference held in Enugu State.
“The Kwara State Public Procurement Agency has recorded another milestone in its drive toward building a highly skilled and professional workforce
“With the latest induction, all procurement officers in the Agency have now attained full membership of APPON.
“The State government is committed to equipping its workforce with the requisite knowledge, skills, and professional competence needed to deliver efficient and transparent public procurement services,” he said.
The CEO noted that the certification of all procurement officers reflects the State Government’s continuous investment in human capital development.
He explained that this is aimed at enhancing professionalism, accountability, and efficiency in public procurement administration across the state.
Abdulbaki commended the dedication and hard work of the newly inducted officers, as well as the management team and entire staff of the Agency for their unwavering commitment to excellence and effective service delivery.
He also commended the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Abuja, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, for the remarkable achievements recorded under his leadership.
“The Bureau has achieved significant milestones, including savings of over ₦1 trillion for the Federal Government, attaining 70 percent effectiveness in procurement processes, and increasing procurement thresholds for goods, works, and services,” he said.
Abdulbaki reaffirmed the commitment of the Agency in supporting reforms and initiatives that promote transparency, accountability, professionalism, and value for money in public procurement.
He pointed out that this is in line with the vision of the Kwara State Government to build an efficient and result-oriented public service.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that sidelines of the programme includes presentation of key papers delivered during the APPON National Conference to officers of the Agency.