Participants at the World Bank sponsored Centre for Innovation, Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards (CIPESS) at the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi (JOSTUM) have been charged to promote integrity, patriotism and professionalism wherever they find themselves for the development of the country and state.
The centre’s leader, Prof Lami Nnamonu, who gave the charge during the advance certificate courses valedictory ceremony in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, informed that CIPESS is funded by the World Bank for a five-year period under the Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement (SPESSE) project.
According to her, the project is aimed at enhancing sustainable human capacity development in procurement, environmental and social standards in public and private sectors in Nigeria and the West African sub-region.
Represented by the deputy centre leader, Environmental Standard, Prof. Rufus Shaato, she explained that the centre was established to support good governance, increase transparency, competition, equal opportunity and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery as well as improve value for money in public expenditure.
While urging graduands to go out there and make a difference in all sphere of life and to achieve the mission to which the centre was established , the centre leader said the mission of the programme is to produce a critical mass of highly skilled and fit-for-purpose professionals in the areas of procurement, environmental and social standards for sustainable development
“All trained participants on the SPESSE programme are expected to contribute their quota to the development of the country and region to reduce incidences of corruption, mismanagement of public resources, and as well be committed to providing mentorship to young professionals among others.”
In his presentation, titled, “Drivers of Change” Dr David Ekwuemelo appealed to participants to be ambassadors of change wherever they find themselves, and excel in their various chosen fields.
“I am urging you all to replicate what you have learnt here wherever you find yourselves be it public or private organisations, let the change begin with you, for the betterment and development of the country and the region so that the time and energy you spend here will not be a waste.”
Some of the participants who spoke including, Edward Kanshio and Kengkeng Ati, all commended the World Bank for the wonderful initiative saying, the programme has opened a new chapter for greater things in their lives.