PROCUREMENT PROCESSES VITAL FOR PROMOTING EFFICIENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY – PROF. AKANWA SAYS AS MOUAU ENGAGES BPP ON STAFF TRAINING
By Sunday Anyim Okorie and Ginger-Eke Collins
The Vice-Chancellor, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Prof. Ursula Ngozi Akanwa, has stressed the critical role of public procurement processes in promoting efficiency, transparency, accountability and value for money in the management of University resources, as the University engages the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to train its management and procurement officers.
Prof. Akanwa stated this while declaring open a two-day workshop for management and procurement officers at the ICAN Lecture Theatre, MOUAU, on the theme, “Understanding the Public Procurement Process: A Workshop for Management and Procurement Officers.”
She described strict adherence to procurement procedures as a key component of her administration’s institutional renewal agenda, stressing that the acquisition of goods, works and services must be properly planned, transparently executed, cost-effective and fully compliant with relevant laws, regulations and guidelines.
The Vice-Chancellor disclosed that the University had established a dedicated Procurement Unit to coordinate procurement activities and ensure compliance with due process. She charged Deans, Directors and Heads of Departments and Units to take ownership of procurement compliance, urging them to apply the knowledge gained from the workshop to strengthen governance, internal controls and responsible management of University resources.
The Director of Training, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Engr. Nelson Ojougboh, who served as the resource person for the training
provided participants with practical knowledge of the statutory and operational requirements guiding public procurement. The training covered key areas and stages of the procurement cycle, including needs assessment, planning, requisition, specifications, quotations, evaluation, approvals, contract management, documentation, compliance and responsibilities of various stakeholders in the procurement processes.
Deans, Directors, Heads of Departments and Heads of Units expressed delight at the Vice-Chancellor’s initiative in organising the workshop. They expressed confidence that the engagement with the BPP would deepen staff understanding of procurement requirements and foster greater efficiency, transparency and accountability across the University.