Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) celebrated a milestone as it conferred degrees upon 1,500 students who successfully completed its World Bank Project centered on Sustainable Procurement, Environmental, and Social Standards Enhancement.
At the graduation ceremony, Professor Ibrahim Hassan Garba, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Coordinator of the Sustainable Procurement, Environmental, and Social Standards Center of Excellence (SPESSCE) at ATBU, elucidated the purpose of these programs, emphasizing their role in combatting corruption within procurement and in training experts in environmental and social standards.
The programs were introduced to bridge the skills gap in procurement, environmental practices, and social standards. According to Professor Garba, the training is divided into several tracks:
- Track A, a five-day program where participants receive certificates.
- Track B, an 80-hour course spanning three to four weeks.
- Track D, offering a post-graduate diploma.
- Track E, providing professional and academic master’s degrees.
This initiative aims to bolster the competence and legal knowledge of individuals engaged in procurement processes. It also offers master classes for chief executives, providing the flexibility for students to attend classes virtually and collect their certificates in person at the university campus.
Furthermore, the program is tailored to enhance the understanding of existing laws among procurement personnel. Professor Garba stated, “The procurement law holds the chief executive officer accountable, but often, they lack knowledge of the law. With this program, we provide training for procurement officers and organize master classes for chief executives, ensuring that they are well-versed in the legal aspects of their roles.”
