The University of Abuja has entered into a strategic partnership with the Bureau of Public Procurement to establish an International Centre for Procurement Excellence in the Federal Capital Territory.
The collaboration was formalised during a visit by the university’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Olanrewaju Tejuoso, who led the Vice-Chancellor, Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, and other members of the university’s management to the Director-General of the agency, Adebowale Adedokun, at his office in Abuja.
The proposed centre, when fully operational, is expected to strengthen procurement training and research while positioning Nigeria as a hub for procurement expertise within the Economic Community of West African States and beyond.
Speaking during the meeting, Senator Tejuoso commended the Director-General of the procurement agency for initiating the project and reaffirmed the university’s commitment to its successful implementation.
He said the centre would contribute to improving transparency and accountability in public procurement while also supporting the oversight responsibilities of the National Assembly.
In his remarks, Vice-Chancellor Fawehinmi reiterated the university’s readiness to collaborate with relevant institutions to advance national development and strengthen academic engagement.
He added that the university had already identified a take-off location and developed structural plans to facilitate the establishment of the centre.
Also speaking, Adedokun explained that the initiative, supported by the World Bank, is designed to professionalise procurement practice by bridging the gap between academic research and practical application.
He noted that the centre would also provide real-time data analytics and research to support federal government procurement processes under the administration’s Renewed Hope agenda.
