Speaking at the 6th APPON National Conference in Enugu, Dr. Adedokun Adebowale unveils the NAPOMS framework and mandates an impending switch to full Electronic Government Procurement.
The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adedokun Adebowale, has challenged public procurement practitioners across Nigeria to urgently integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging digital frameworks into their operations.
Making the call at the 6th National Conference of the Association of Public Procurement Practitioners of Nigeria (APPON) held in Enugu on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, the BPP boss emphasized that technological innovation is rapidly reshaping governance architectures and corporate operations worldwide.
Addressing the delegates on the structural future of the sector, Adebowale warned that manual tracking frameworks are becoming obsolete. He noted that for public officers to remain relevant, efficient, and accountable, they must aggressively equip themselves with modern data analytics and digital oversight skills.
To establish a unified, standardized approach to human resource management within the sector, the Director-General disclosed that the bureau is fast-tracking the deployment of the National Procurement Officers Management System (NAPOMS).
This foundational platform is designed to track, protect, and regulate procurement officers at both federal and state tiers. Furthermore, Adebowale announced the upcoming rollout of the Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system-a secure digital portal engineered to institutionalize open competition and eliminate human interference in contract bidding.
He reminded participants that posting complete contract information on designated federal portals is a strict statutory requirement, warning that concealing data constitutes a direct violation of established fiscal laws.
“The future of procurement lies in Artificial Intelligence, big data, and blockchain technologies. The question is, are you prepared for that tomorrow? Professional competence, leadership capacity, and continuous learning are critical to sustaining reforms. Only academically and professionally qualified officers should be allowed to continue working in procurement units,” Dr. Adedokun Adebowale asserted.
Expressing concern over the infiltration of untrained and unqualified personnel into critical ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), the BPP Chief directed practitioners to enroll in specialized short-term courses to meet changing industry demands.
Turning to economic inclusivity, Adebowale highlighted that the federal government has institutionalized a mandatory 7% contract reservation quota.
This affirmative action policy ensures that a specific share of public contracts is exclusively awarded to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), women-owned corporate entities, youth-led startups, and ventures pioneered by persons with disabilities (PWDs).
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