By Okeoghene Akubuike

The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has urged public sector procurement leaders to embrace strategic thinking, innovation and effective leadership to accelerate reforms and improve service delivery.
The Director-General of BPP, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, made the call in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by Ijeoma Chijoke-Adindu, Head of Information and Public Relations.
Adedokun spoke at the Public Sector Procurement Leaders’ Forum, organised in partnership with Harley Reed in Abuja on Thursday, with the theme: “Leadership as the Cornerstone of Procurement Reform.”
The director-general, who was represented by Nasir Bello, Director, Civil Infrastructure Department, said successful procurement reforms required more than robust legal frameworks, policies and technological platforms.
He said effective implementation depended largely on the leadership, competence and commitment of professionals responsible for procurement activities.
According to him, public procurement should evolve from an administrative process focused on documentation and contract procedures into a strategic institutional function that delivers measurable benefits to citizens.
“Compliance with procurement laws and regulations remains fundamental.
“However, the ultimate measure of success is the extent to which public resources are utilised effectively to meet institutional objectives, deliver quality services and create tangible value for Nigerians.”
The BPP boss identified five critical responsibilities of effective procurement leaders: leading with integrity, positioning procurement as a strategic function, developing people, strengthening professional judgment, managing change effectively and taking responsibility for results.
Adedokun urged procurement professionals to participate actively in institutional planning, including needs identification, priority setting, budget preparation and assessment of appropriate procurement and delivery options.
He said their early involvement in institutional decision-making would promote better planning, minimise procurement risks, improve efficiency and align procurement outcomes with organisational priorities.
Adedokun reaffirmed the BPP’s commitment to sustained engagement with strategic partners and stakeholders to advance procurement professionalism, strengthen institutional capacity and promote transparency, accountability, efficiency and value for money.
Earlier, the Country Director of Harley Reed, Ms Grace Onosode, appreciated the BPP for sustaining its partnership with the organisation.
Onosode described the forum as an important platform for knowledge sharing, professional engagement and practical discussions on strengthening public procurement leadership.
She encouraged participants to discuss challenges affecting procurement operations in their respective institutions, particularly bureaucratic bottlenecks, lengthy approval processes and other institutional constraints.
In his presentation, Mr William Tagoe, Chief Executive Officer of Harley Reed, emphasised the need to align institutional strategies with policies and operational procedures.
Tagoe said procurement processes should be deliberately designed to support broader organisational objectives.
He urged procurement professionals to move beyond routine administrative responsibilities and adopt a forward-looking approach that anticipated institutional needs, identified efficiency opportunities and promoted value creation.
“Procurement should not be limited to implementing approved budgets.
“It must play an active role in anticipating institutional needs, supporting strategic planning and identifying opportunities to create value while ensuring that decisions are transparent, accountable and defensible,” he said.
Tagoe challenged participants to translate knowledge acquired at the forum into practical institutional improvements, noting that the success of the engagement would be measured by positive changes introduced in their organisations.
The forum attracted directors and heads of procurement departments, procurement and supply chain professionals, as well as other stakeholders.
The interactive session provided participants with opportunities to share institutional experiences, identify operational challenges and exchange ideas on improving procurement performance.(NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru