Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called on procurement professionals and stakeholders across Nigeria to deepen capacity and strengthen systems to ensure a transparent and efficient procurement process nationwide.
Governor Sanwo-Olu made the call 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.
The Governor highlighted Lagos State’s leadership in institutionalizing a transparent procurement framework, noting that the state has built a strong foundation over the past 15 years.
“For us in Lagos State, we have been a strong advocate of a well-coordinated and transparent procurement process,” he said. “We pride ourselves on being one of the first governments to institutionalize public procurement practices. However, we also recognize the need to continue building and spreading competency to enrich the system further.”
Sanwo-Olu stressed that a robust procurement system improves planning, enhances negotiation, and ultimately delivers better outcomes for the public.
In his remarks, CIPS Global CEO Ben Farrell expressed the institute’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in strengthening procurement standards. He announced plans to establish a permanent presence in the country to work with both public and private sectors.
“We are here to support you for the prosperity of Nigeria,” Farrell said. “By spreading knowledge and building competence, we aim to significantly contribute to national development.”
The visit underscores growing collaboration between Lagos State and global procurement institutions in driving transparency, professionalism, and capacity development across procurement systems.