Education in Nigeria
CIPSMN concludes orientation, begins training for 2025 batch A graduate programme
As part of its strategy and resolve to sanitise and induct more professionals into the Procurement and Supply Chain Management in Nigeria, the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Chain Management Supply of Nigeria (CIPSMN), has admitted scores of men and women into its 2025 Batch A graduate conversion programme.
At a brief ceremony held at the Lagos office of the institute, Prof. Mohammed Aliyu, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the institute congratulated prospective members on their choice to pursue professional knowledge in procurement and supply chain management.
The Registrar Emphasised the need to train more professionals to handle procurement and supply chain management in organizations, he explained that no nation can function effectively if it does not have a good procurement and supply chain management professional system, and institute a base for scientific and technological development.
Aliyu described CIPSMN as a professional pillar meant for the establishment of good procurement and supply chain management best practices, saying the job or office of procurement should be handled by professionals who have acquired requisite training.
He however, decried the poor treatment by policymakers and implementers in Nigeria, saying most procurement and supply chain management professionals in Nigeria, particularly those working in the public sector don’t get the attention they deserve as regards scheme of service, and this makes it difficult for them to make meaningful contributions to obtain good results and value for money.
The Registrar stated “The World Bank Study and Report, popularly referred to as the Country Procurement Assessment Report (CPAR 2000), which led to the establishment of Act 14 of 2007, provided sound and relevant partway, policy and procedures which would have helped both government and procurement professionals to become more responsible but were left unimplemented to the lette
Ladies and gentlemen, can we, at this point, ask ourselves whether any nation or organization can grow, function and even prosper without a sound, vibrant and indeed diligent procurement and supply chain management workforce? The answer is always a resounding capital “NO”. The reason is predicated on the fact that the growth and development of any nation, organization and even individual standard of living are always measured by the quality of resources available to support and advance his or her life appropriately.”
He advocated that the office of procurement and supply chain manager or any other profession cannot be occupied by anybody with just any degree and emphasized that it is only available to those people who have undergone special training in the art and science of managing such a specialized area.
Going down memory lane, Aliyu said the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN) has a long history behind it as a place of useful learning.
He said, “It received its Chartered in 2007, but it can trace its origin back to 1974 when it was founded as Nigeria Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management (NIPSM). Its original founding fathers left instructions in their will that a new professional institution be established “as a place of useful professional learning for the good of mankind”. This ethos remains true today. Underpinning the industrially and commercially relevant research, teaching and learning undertaken throughout the institute.
“By coming to the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN), you have gained membership in one of Africa’s largest professional bodies and one of its best to redirect your way to the top and reinvent yourself because it is the precursor for good governance, authentic dynamic leadership trait that makes the cycle or excellence leadership complete in rendering good service.
“I congratulate you on your choice and on your good luck in securing admission into this great institute of learning to professionalize and free yourself from mid-career crisis because there are sector specialists in procurement function who derive joy in highjacking legitimate procurement professional jobs.
Commenting on importance of the conversion programme, he said procurement ensures value for money, builds sound relationships and improves profitability.
“I must be quick to remind you that you will now discover that you have placed upon your individual and collective heads a heavy responsibility which means the responsibility to define, maintain and advance the cause, and good reputation of CIPSMN as represented by the quality of its professional display over the years and the excellence it stands for in all its associated components anchored on ethics, professionalism, policy and procedures implementation.”he added.