LAGOS HOSTS PROCUREMENT OFFICERS' CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMME

 

By Kayode Olopade 

The 2024 Capacity Building Programme for Procurement Officers kicked off yesterday at "The Zone", Gbagada, Lagos. The programme, themed "Effective Use of Procurement Documents, Analysis and Reporting", aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of procurement officers in the public sector.

The event brought together procurement professionals from various government agencies and parastatals, who gathered to share experiences and learn best practices in procurement management.

Keynote speakers and facilitators at the programme delved into critical topics such as procurement planning, contract management, and financial reporting. Participants also engaged in interactive sessions and group discussions, providing a platform for networking and collaboration.

In his opening remarks, Director-General of the Agency, Mr Fatai Idowu Onafowote, emphasized the importance of effective procurement management in achieving good governance and sustainable development.

He maintained that the year 2024 Capacity Building programme for procurement officers of MDAs of the State is organized to further build the capacity of procurement officers of the state for improved service delivery.

"The capacity-building programme is part of efforts to strengthen procurement processes and promote transparency and accountability in the public sector as well as to further build the capacity of procurement officers of the state for improved service delivery. In view of the importance of documentation, analysis and reporting in public procurement, the Agency has chosen "Effective use of procurement documents, Analysis and Reporting" as theme  for this year's Capacity Building programme",0nafowote said.

He emphasized that it is instructive to note that Public procurement is guided by rules, processes and procedures, adding that "A procurement officers who lacks the requisite knowledge of  procurement documents rules  and procedures can, therefore be described as an impostor or  a quack. But Lagos State has no room for impostors and quacks masquerading as procurement officers since only thr best is good enough for the people of Lagos State", DG asserted.

The 2024 Capacity Building Programme for Procurement Officers is expected to run for only one day, with participants receiving certificates of completion at the end of the programme.

In his goodwill message, the Lagos State Head of Service,  Mr Bode Agoro, reminded the state's procurement officers that as custodians overseeing government procurement-related activities, they must ensure maintenance of transparency, manage stakeholders' and work hand in hand to ensure that the  procurement process is used as a tool for development, rather than an impediment.

Also in her vote of thanks, the Director, Monitoring, Enforcement and Compliance, Lagos State Procurement Agency, Mrs Bola Adeniran, said there is no doubt that the huge investment being made by the State government  on digitalization of procurement processes and capacity building of personnel has continued to yield very positive results in public service delivery, just as she urged participants to utilize the opportunity of trainings being organized by the agency to build themselves professionally.