MOUAU Trains Management, Procurement Officers on Public Procurement Processes

The Vice-Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Prof. Ursula Ngozi Akanwa, has stressed the importance of public procurement processes in promoting efficiency, transparency, accountability and value for money in the management of university resources.

Prof. Akanwa made the remarks as the university engaged the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to train its management and procurement officers on effective procurement practices.

She spoke while declaring open a two-day workshop for management and procurement officers held at the ICAN Lecture Theatre, MOUAU, with the theme, “Understanding the Public Procurement Process: A Workshop for Management and Procurement Officers.”

The Vice-Chancellor described strict adherence to procurement procedures as a key component of her administration’s institutional renewal agenda. She stressed that the acquisition of goods, works and services must be properly planned, transparently executed, cost-effective and fully compliant with relevant laws, regulations and guidelines.

Prof. Akanwa disclosed that the University had established a dedicated Procurement Unit to coordinate procurement activities and ensure compliance with due process.

She charged Deans, Directors, Heads of Departments and Heads of Units to take ownership of procurement compliance, urging them to apply the knowledge gained from the workshop to strengthen governance, internal controls and responsible management of University resources.

The Director of Training at the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Engr. Nelson Ojougboh, who served as the resource person for the training, provided participants with practical knowledge of the statutory and operational requirements guiding public procurement.

The training covered key areas and stages of the procurement cycle, including:

1. Needs assessment
2. Planning
3. Requisition
4. Specifications
5. Quotations
6. Evaluation
7. Approvals
8. Contract management
9. Documentation
10. Compliance
11. Responsibilities of various stakeholders in the procurement processes

Deans, Directors, Heads of Departments and Heads of Units expressed delight at the Vice-Chancellor’s initiative in organising the workshop.

They expressed confidence that the engagement with the BPP would deepen staff understanding of procurement requirements and foster greater efficiency, transparency and accountability across the University.