385 Graduate from World Bank-Sponsored Procurement, Environmental Standards Programme in Niger
Three hundred and eighty-five professionals from the public and private sectors have graduated from a World Bank-sponsored short-course programme on procurement, environmental and social standards in Niger State.
The programme is being implemented by the Institute of Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards at Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, Benue State.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Director of the Institute, Professor Lami Angela Nnamonu, said the initiative was designed to strengthen human capacity and promote best practices in procurement, environmental and social standards.
She noted that the beneficiaries were drawn from both public and private-sector organisations and had undergone rigorous training aimed at improving professional competence and service delivery.
The programme is coordinated by Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University under the World Bank Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement Project, with beneficiaries drawn from Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau States, as well as the Federal Capital Territory.
Represented at the ceremony by Professor Comfort Dooshima, Nnamonu expressed confidence that the knowledge acquired by the trainees would translate into improved service delivery across their respective organisations.
She urged the beneficiaries to continue expanding their knowledge, particularly in information and communication technology, to remain relevant in an increasingly digital workplace.
In a paper titled “Drivers of Change,” the Institute’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Professor Simon Shomkegh, described the graduands as agents of change in their respective organisations.
Represented by Dr. Yager Gabriel, Shomkegh challenged the beneficiaries to apply the skills acquired to promote accountability, combat corruption and prevent mismanagement of public resources, while also mentoring others.
Speaking on behalf of the trainees in Environmental Standards, Mr. Chindo Ibrahim Yusuf described the training opportunity as a morale booster and an important platform for professional development.
The latest graduation brings to 1,330 the number of people trained through the World Bank-sponsored Centre of Excellence from Niger, Plateau and Kwara States.
