Abuja: Dr Adebowale Adedokun, Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), has highlighted the importance of collaboration between procurement specialists and strategists to tackle financial leakages and declining resources in Nigeria. Adedokun made this assertion in a statement released by Zira Nigga, Head of Public Relations at the BPP, during the 2025 Annual Conference of the Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria (Chartered) held in Port Harcourt.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Adedokun underscored the necessity of reducing the misuse of national resources and optimizing them for national development. The conference, themed 'Strategic Leadership in a Disruptive Economy: Driving Sustainable National Development,' served as a platform for this discussion. Adedokun stressed the need for strategists to work closely with procurement specialists to address the significant challenges facing Nigeria, emphasizing the importance of minimizing resource depletion and maximizing their usage for the country's benefit.
Adedokun revealed that the BPP is initiating a series of reforms directed by the Federal Government, aimed at transforming procurement from a transactional process to a transformational one. These reforms are expected to disrupt the 'business as usual' mindset, paving the way for improved service delivery in areas such as accommodation, education, healthcare, and financial services.
He assured the institute of BPP's commitment to enhancing the capacity of public sector officers and collaborating with the institute to eliminate individuals who undermine Nigeria's progress. Adedokun noted the importance of the Renewed Hope Agenda, which relies on strategists for implementation, and urged all stakeholders to play their roles constructively.
The D-G highlighted the institute's strategic role in meeting the Nigerian demand for accountability and transparency, emphasizing the need for transformation over mere transactions. He pointed out that no nation can thrive without strategists, particularly in addressing issues related to electricity, housing, and value for money, and stressed the importance of strategic actions to overcome challenges related to insecurity.
Adedokun stated that the conference theme aligns with BPP's mission to promote a procurement system that supports national growth, fiscal discipline, and inclusive development. He called for a reevaluation of leadership, innovation, and governance amid economic shocks and global uncertainties, highlighting procurement as a catalyst for development in modern economies.
The Director General warned that inefficient procurement leads to corruption, project failures, wastage of public resources, and loss of public confidence in governance. He emphasized the need to reposition procurement as a strategic driver of economic sustainability, rather than a mere administrative function.
Adedokun concluded by stating that strategic procurement leadership in a disruptive economy like Nigeria involves making courageous, innovative, and ethical choices to enhance the nation and improve citizens' lives. He called upon policymakers, professionals, academics, and citizens to transform procurement into a genuine engine of sustainable national development.