The Institute of Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards (IPESS), Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi (JOSTUM), has graduated 595 participants from its Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement (SPESSE) capacity-building programme.
The graduates, drawn largely from Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government, completed an intensive certificate course aimed at strengthening capacity and improving professional standards in procurement, environmental and social management across Nigeria’s public and private sectors.
The programme is implemented under the World Bank-sponsored SPESSE project, which is hosted by universities across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony which was held at the Aliyu Akwai Doma Hall, University of Jos on Friday 11th September 2026, the Center Leader and Director of IPESS, Professor Lami Angela Nnamonu, represented by the Deputy Director, Dr Christopher Eche, said the programme was designed to address gaps in the relationship between procurement, environmental considerations and social standards.
He explained that procurement decisions must take into account their environmental and social implications, stressing that the three areas are closely interconnected.
The Institute, he said, offers various levels of training, including short courses, advanced certificate programmes, postgraduate diplomas, master’s programmes and PhD programmes in procurement, environmental and social standards.
He commended the participants for their resilience and commitment throughout the training and urged them to ensure that the knowledge and certificates acquired translate into meaningful contributions to national development.
Representing the Plateau State Head of Civil Service, Mr Stephen Pam Gadong, Permanent Secretary Mrs Jummai Shekarau congratulated the Institute and the participants on the successful completion of the programme.
She noted that almost 90 per cent of the participants were civil servants from Plateau State, describing the development as a reflection of the importance placed on human capital development by the state government.
She urged the graduates to apply the knowledge gained in their respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies, with a view to improving professionalism, accountability, procurement practices, efficiency and value for money in public service.
“The true measure of training is not the certificate we receive at the end, but the difference we make with the knowledge we have acquired,” she stated, calling on participants to make the training a catalyst for institutional transformation.
In their valedictory remarks, Ini Grace Frederick spoke on behalf of participants in the Procurement Standards track, while Dasat Nanma Ferdinand represented participants in the Environmental Standards track.
Ketura Kelvin Karami spoke on behalf of participants in the Social Standards track, as the representatives reflected on the knowledge and experience gained during the programme.
Delivering a keynote address on “Drivers of Change,” Patricia Kuma Tabe charged the graduands to become agents of positive change in their workplaces and communities.
Participants were encouraged to promote best practices, integrity, patriotism and professionalism, while contributing to efforts aimed at reducing corruption and the mismanagement of public resources.
The Plateau State Director of the SPESSE programme, Engr. Dr Peter Kamtu, expressed confidence in the quality of training received by the participants.
Kamtu said the knowledge and skills acquired during the programme would equip the graduates to make meaningful contributions to their respective workplaces and support improved service delivery.
Certificates were subsequently presented to the 595 graduates, marking the successful completion of the capacity-building programme.
IPESS said the latest graduation represents another milestone in its efforts to build sustainable human capacity in Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards.
The Institute has, since its inception, rolled out five professionalisation tracks and trained thousands of participants, with graduation activities also held or planned across different centres, including Minna, Jos and Ilorin.
