News
Girls Brigade 23rd Calabar Company Inducts New Patrons, Celebrates Engr. Anjor Obande for Championing Youth Empowerment
Joel Ajayi
The Girls Brigade 23rd Calabar Company, District 2, held a vibrant and inspiring ceremony on Sunday to officially enroll new patrons, in a service filled with music, prayers, and celebration at the Presbyterian Church, Usang Iso Memorial Parish, Calabar, Cross River State.
One of the key highlights of the event was the recognition of Engr. Mrs. Anjor Obande, a passionate humanitarian and founder of the Jorjor Mother and Child Foundation.
She was honoured for her outstanding commitment to youth empowerment and advocacy for maternal and child welfare.
The enrollment of new patrons marks a significant milestone in the Brigade’s mission to foster strong leadership and deepen community engagement. The inclusion of trailblazers like Engr. Obande demonstrates the organization’s ongoing commitment to raising confident, responsible, and God-fearing young women.
In her acceptance speech, Engr. Obande expressed heartfelt appreciation for the honour and pledged her continued support for the Brigade’s vision and values.
“My mission is to empower young girls to be independent—because independence builds confidence. A confident woman is an empowered woman,” she said.
She also encouraged the girls to stay rooted in faith, quoting the Bible: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all other things shall be added unto you.”
Also addressing the gathering, Deputy State Commissioner of the Girls Brigade, Cross River State, Ms. Okuawan Inyang, reminded the newly inducted patrons that their roles are not merely ceremonial but come with the responsibility to mentor, support, and actively contribute to the growth of the organization.
“We are counting on you to lead by example, uplift our young girls, and walk with us in shaping a bold, capable, and purpose-driven generation,” she said.
The ceremony featured uplifting musical performances, goodwill messages, and moments of reflection, creating an atmosphere of unity, joy, and shared purpose.
As the Girls Brigade continues to grow across Cross River State, the addition of committed patrons like Engr. Obande is expected to further strengthen its mission.
With the support of such leaders, the Brigade is well-positioned to keep inspiring and equipping the next generation of Nigerian women.
Business
Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management Advocates Digitisation of Procurement Processes, Rolls Out New Website
By Joel Ajayi
The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN) has unveiled a revamped website as part of its broader push to accelerate the digitisation of procurement processes across the country.
The relaunch was announced at the institute’s 16th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Wednesday in Abuja, where the North Central Coordinator of CIPSMN, Abdul Mamman, said the initiative would strengthen real-time information sharing, expand member participation and align the profession with global best practices.
Mamman warned that organisations and professionals who failed to embrace digital procurement risked being left behind in an increasingly technology-driven environment.
According to him, the upgraded website is designed to provide members with timely feedback, wider engagement and access to real-time information within and outside Nigeria.
“By adopting digital procurement systems and platforms, we create opportunities to save time and efficiently analyse large volumes of activities involved in procurement,” Mamman said.
“When you are digitalised, your coverage is wider and information is shared instantly. That is why we are relaunching our website—to ensure broader participation and enable every member to access real-time information.”
He added that the institute was positioning its members to meet global standards in procurement and supply chain management through the adoption of emerging technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence and data analytics.
Mamman explained that the institute’s objective was to add value to procurement by promoting proper sourcing systems, relevant skills, recognised credentials and practical competence.
He also called on the Federal Government to strengthen procurement governance by inaugurating the National Council of Public Procurement, describing it as a critical policy-making body.
“We are appealing to President Bola Tinubu to inaugurate the National Council of Public Procurement,” he said.
“Once inaugurated, the council will oversee procurement activities and report directly to the President, ensuring greater transparency and accountability.”
In his remarks, the President of CIPSMN, Alhaji Sikiru Balogun, said the AGM provided an opportunity to assess the institute’s progress and outline an action plan for 2026.
Balogun disclosed that a major priority for the coming year was securing presidential assent to a bill already passed by the National Assembly, seeking to amend the institute’s name from Purchasing and Supply Management to Procurement and Supply Management.
“The bill has been passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. What we now seek is presidential assent,” he said.
“The name change is to align the institute with global best practices and reflect the true scope of the profession worldwide.”
Also speaking, the Registrar of the institute, Alhaji Mohammed Aliyu, described the 2025 AGM as successful, noting growing recognition of procurement as a critical driver of economic development.
Aliyu said the institute remained committed to promoting professionalism, ethical conduct and best practices in procurement, a sector he noted accounts for a significant portion of the national budget.
He called for stricter professionalism in the sector, lamenting what he described as the encroachment of unqualified “mid-career professionals” into procurement roles.
“This is not ideal and is unethical,” he said.
“Our focus in the coming year is to ensure that the profession takes its rightful place, with qualified practitioners occupying procurement positions in both the public and private sectors.”
Aliyu expressed confidence that strengthening professionalism in procurement would support the economic reform agenda of the Tinubu administration and enhance transparency and efficiency in public spending.
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