Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State, has emphasized the critical need for professionals and stakeholders to actively promote and strengthen capacity development within Nigeria’s procurement systems.
He underscored the importance of establishing a robust, transparent, and well-coordinated procurement framework to ensure efficiency and accountability in public service delivery.
The governor made these remarks during a courtesy visit by the Global Chief Executive Officer of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), Mr. Ben Farrell, and the Regional Director for Africa, Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Mr. Sam Achampong, at Lagos House, Marina.
Reflecting on the state’s journey, Governor Sanwo-Olu highlighted Lagos State’s pioneering role in public procurement reform. He noted that Lagos has long been a strong proponent of institutionalizing procurement practices that are transparent and effective.
“For us in Lagos State, we take pride in being one of the first sub-national governments to establish a formal public procurement system,” he said.
“I had the privilege of being in government about 15 years ago when these conversations began, and we were quick to set up the necessary agencies and regulatory frameworks. Over time, we have learned that beyond establishing structures, it is equally important to continually build and deepen capacity.”
He stressed that a well-functioning procurement system is essential not just for compliance, but also for strategic planning and effective negotiations.
“In Lagos, we fully appreciate the value of a sound procurement process. It enables better anticipation of needs and more informed decision-making. We must continue to train professionals and spread this competency across all sectors,” the governor added.
During the visit, CIPS Global CEO Mr. Ben Farrell reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s development through capacity building in procurement. He praised the efforts of Lagos State in laying a solid foundation for public procurement and expressed readiness to collaborate more closely with Nigerian institutions.
“We operate in over 180 countries and our mission is to share best practices, build professional capacity, and support nations in achieving procurement excellence,” said Mr. Farrell.
“We are here to demonstrate our commitment to Nigeria’s prosperity. Our intention is to establish a permanent presence in the country to partner with both public and private sectors in building competence and strengthening procurement capabilities.”
He noted that Nigeria stands to benefit immensely from the widespread adoption of international procurement standards and practices, particularly when driven by skilled and competent professionals.