By Progress Godfrey

ABUJA – The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) is set to introduce procurement ethics and professional training in secondary schools and universities to deepen accountability in public spending and groom future professionals.

Director-General, BPP, Adebowale Adedokun, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday at the launch of “The Great Conversation”, a strategic engagement by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply and global procurement leaders.

He said the move targets early exposure of young Nigerians to ethical standards while strengthening collaboration between government and professional bodies to protect public investments.

Adedokun noted that rising investments in roads, hospitals, high-tech infrastructure and medical equipment require professionals who operate within globally recognised ethical standards.

“We need professional bodies who have embedded good ethical practices in their work programmes. The government is borrowing money to provide social infrastructure, but it also needs to safeguard those investments by ensuring that professionals with global recognition do not compromise standards,” he said.

He added that the partnership with CIPS would provide access to global expertise, improve quality assurance and reduce risks linked to fake products, unethical conduct and value loss in public projects.

“Before now, we have been operating in parallel, and things could go wrong because there was no synergy. But now we are closing the gap so that anyone involved in procurement will be accountable not only to regulators but also to professional bodies,” he said.

He further said the bureau is working with CIPS to establish procurement clubs in schools and tertiary institutions to drive mentorship, career development and professional certification.

Global Chief Executive Officer, Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, Ben Farrell, said the profession is undergoing rapid change driven by artificial intelligence, geopolitical risks, climate pressures and supply chain disruptions.

He said procurement professionals now play strategic roles in managing uncertainty, sustainability and organisational resilience in an increasingly interconnected world.

“The world has become highly interconnected and supply chains can now be weaponised. Organisations are turning to procurement professionals to manage disruptions and ensure continuity,” he said.

Farrell added that the initiative would also shape future skills, including new credentials in artificial intelligence, anti-corruption and supply chain resilience.

Country Director, Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply Nigeria, Chukwudi Uche, said the engagement reflects efforts to position procurement as a driver of national development and institutional performance.

He noted that procurement now sits at the centre of governance, accountability, risk management and value creation across sectors.

Uche said persistent gaps in strategic sourcing, data analytics, digital transformation and stakeholder engagement require stronger collaboration and continuous professional development.