Lagos State has been given an award as the Best State in Procurement Compliance at the 5th Africa Procurement and Supply Chain Awards 2023, held at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The Director-General of the Agency, Mr. Fatai Idowu Onafowote, also received an award as the Public Sector Procurement Personality of the Year at the event which was attended by business and professional leaders from various African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, the Gambia and Tanzania.
Three Procurement Officers in the Civil Service of Lagos State, including Mrs. Bolanle Riskat Adeniran, the Director of Procurement in LAWMA; the Director of Procurement in the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Jijoho Kappo and the Head of Procurement of the Office of Transformation, Creativity and Innovation (OTCI), Mrs. Iyabo Okoya-Adelanwa were also given awards at the event in recognition of their exemplary performance as professionals in procurement practice in the public sector.
The Procurement Officer of Kosofe Local Government, Mrs. Niniola Rasheedat Balogun-Are and her counterpart in Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area, Mrs. Rafiat Amoke Abijo-Aregbe also received awards for their distinguished performance.
Other awardees at the event include Lafarge Plc., MTN, Volta River Authority, Ghana, Nigerian Bottling Company Plc and CRDB Bank, Tanzania, among others.
Speaking at the event, tagged: “Celebrating the Achievements of Africa’s Supply Chain and Procurement Sector”, the National President of the Association of Public Procurement Professionals of Nigeria (APPON), Mr. Emem James Kanico, stated that sound procurement practice holds the key to good governance. He, therefore, urged governments at all levels to provide the enabling environment for due process in public procurement to thrive.
Mr. Kanico also commended the Director-General of the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, Mr. Fatai Idowu Onafowote, for the giant strides the Agency had recorded in public procurement in the State.