The Administration and students of the University of Makeni hosted the Chief Executive of the National Public Procurement Authority, Ibrahim Brima Swarray, as keynote speaker in the launch of Procurement and Logistic supply Management Association on 19 March, 2021 as part of the process of helping them know the rich history of the Public Procurement management, and positively guide their activities in society. The ceremony was held at the University Conference Hall.
Remarkably, the ceremony was the first in the history of the University and would give the would be procurement Ambassadors the opportunity of using very beautiful skills and knowledge in projecting the symbolic national task ahead of them.
Officially welcoming the NPPA Chief and entourage, the Dean of Faculty, Commerce and Management UNIMAK, Mr. Satingie Kabba, said that the NPPA should be celebrated for moving a step further to achieving its mandate by successfully making procurement an enviable discipline in the Country. He also admonished the students to fruitfully utilise the opportunity given them describing it as a lifetime golden opportunity that could positively transform their lives.
In his keynote address, the Chief Executive of NPPA, Ibrahim Brima Swarray, said that his Administration was pleased to have a team of procurement students serving as the newest clients to Launching Procurement and Logistic supply Management Association.
He hastily advised that much was expected of them in terms of positive behaviour.
“We expect you all to behave responsibly by adhering to the rules and regulations governing the procurement job”.
The provision of an enabling procurement environment and a disciplined atmosphere for all practitioners are the core values of the Public Procurement Act and Regulations, and unbiasedly enforcing laws to project and maintain the core values of the historic procurement management with a major priority for value for money ” he emphasized.
He defined procurement as a process of acquiring goods, works and services including all from the selection of needs, solicitation of resources, preparation and award of contract, and all phases of the contract administration. He maintained that the Authority has made a milestone in awareness raising on its role and responsibilities.
Mr.Swarray explained that the students offering procurement in tertiary institutions are the next generation and cadre of procurement practitioners in both the private and public sectors. He recalled that since procurement was introduced in both the public and private sectors, public perception about practitioners is that once someone is appointed Procurement Officer, they automatically become wealthy; living a lifestyle disproportionate to their emoluments.
The NPPA he reaffirmed, as an Authority regulating, monitoring and advising Government on public Procurement management is vital in shaping the mindset of the Public and students to be best informed as change agents. ” A good number of institutional heads, vote controllers and even the general public perceive procurement practices as critical jobs. To change this perception is a herculean task that cannot be left in the hands of NPPA alone. Students offering procurement must play a vital role in rebranding the practice,” he noted.
There were also other important speakers from top management within the University who made important speeches geared towards preparing the new procurement Ambassadors for their life changing journey.
The Ceremony was climaxed with the Deputy Director of Legal and Corporate Affairs, Director of Finance, Deputy Director of Monitoring and Evaluation and few other staff who saw the tour to be very important.
