The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has called for stronger collaboration between procurement and project management professionals to accelerate Nigeria’s industrial transformation, improve infrastructure delivery and ensure value for public expenditure.

Dr Adebowale Adedokun, Director-General, BPP, made the call in a statement by Ijeoma Chijoke-Adindu, Head of Information and Public Relations, in Abuja on Thursday.

Adebowale spoke at the International Project Management Day programme and induction ceremony of the Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN) on Thursday.

The programme had the theme: “Project Management: A Catalyst for Nigeria’s Industrial Transformation”.

Adedokun said effective procurement and professional project management were critical to translating government policies and investments into tangible development outcomes.

He said that while procurement ensured the selection of competent service providers and established clear contractual obligations, project management coordinated resources, timelines, personnel and risks required for successful project execution.

Adedokun said that the success of public projects should not be measured by contracts awarded alone, but by the delivery of functional infrastructure, quality services and sustainable benefits to citizens.

The BPP boss said the bureau’s reform agenda, through initiatives such as the Nigeria First Policy, Sector-Based Procurement Frameworks and measures to broaden supplier participation, was designed to strengthen domestic production.

He said that the reforms would also strengthen local supply chains and opportunities for Nigerian enterprises.

He also highlighted the recent unveiling of the MSMEs Public Procurement Training Programme and Digital Learning Portal, supported by the World Bank under the Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement (SPESSE) Project.

According to him, the initiative is aimed at strengthening the capacity of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to participate effectively in public procurement.

He said the programme would equip MSMEs with the knowledge and skills to understand procurement requirements, prepare responsive bids and fulfil contractual obligations.

Adedokun said that the digital platform would expand access to procurement education and provide opportunities for continuous capacity development.

He identified other ongoing reforms to include Price Intelligence and Benchmarking, revised Standard Bidding Documents, revised Prior-Review and Monetary-Threshold Implementation Guidelines, as well as the Policy on Variations.

The director-general said the measures were designed to improve procurement efficiency, transparency and project execution.

He further said that the breau’s Monitoring and Evaluation System, alongside professional certification and continuous capacity building, would strengthen accountability and ensure that public expenditure translated into functional assets and measurable development outcomes.

Adedokun urged the newly inducted members of the institute to uphold professional integrity, demonstrate excellence and embrace accountability.

“Successful project management begins before contract award and extends beyond physical completion to the effective utilisation and maintenance of delivered projects.

“Stronger collaboration among procurement professionals, project managers, contractors and other stakeholders will improve project delivery, strengthen domestic value chains, promote employment and contribute to national prosperity,” he said.

The BPP boss congratulated the institute and the newly inducted members, urging them to remain committed to professional excellence and sustainable national development.

Earlier, Mr Henry Mbadiwe, Registrar-General and Chief Executive Officer of CIPMN, commended the BPP leadership for its procurement reforms and digital transformation initiatives aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability and efficiency in public procurement administration.

Mbadiwe applauded the institute’s digital transformation efforts, including the automation of membership registration, professional examinations, licensing and verification processes.

He said the technology-driven reforms had significantly improved efficiency and transparency in the administration of the institute’s professional activities.

Mbadiwe also highlighted the institute’s electronic verification system and integration of its Application Programming Interface (API), which enable organisations and relevant stakeholders to verify the professional status and licensing credentials of project managers.

The registrar-general said the initiatives would promote professionalism, credibility and accountability in project management practice.