News
Works Minister Umahi Urges South East to Support President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda To Tame Insecurity
…Lauds Gov. Nwifuru on Inclusive Leadership
Joel Ajayi
The Honourable Minister of Works, his Excellency Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi CON has assured the people of South East that the year 2025 shall mark a turning point in the efforts of the federal government in tackling security challenges facing the Zone.
He gave this assurance during the yuletide visit of Izzi Nnodo Youth Forum to the Honourable Minister of Works at his country home, Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, on 27th December 2024.
Recounting the unprecedented democracy dividends harvested by South East under the Renewed Hope administration, he called for more support and solidarity to the administration of his Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR. “We must always be grateful to God, and we must be grateful to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“I believe strongly that the Igbo people, the South East people, are now on the right track.We have learnt to talk less. We have learnt to know that the centre belongs to all of us. We have learnt to support the government at the centre.”
The Honourable Minister hailed the leadership stewardship of the Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt. Hon. Bldr. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru,GGCEHF which he said had deepened the cause of peace and tranquility in the State.
While commending the sense of generosity and gratitude of the youths of Izzi Nnodo, he urged all the youths of Ebonyi State to continue to champion the cause of peace and fairplay,. equity and good conscience as that was the virtue that inspired the Divine Mandate’s victory in the 2023 General Elections. He said that the 4+4 terms of the Governor of Ebonyi State is sacrosanct, and no agent of disunity can twart it.
“I will continue to preach equity,fairness, and justice in Ebonyi State. We will continue to encourage our dear Governor to be fair to be equitable. God will continue to be with him.”
Earlier in his speech, the President-General of Izzi Nnodo Youth Forum, Dr Andrew Chibueze Elom said that the aim of the visit was for the youths of the three Local Government Areas that make up Izzi Nnodo where the current Governor of Ebonyi State hails from, to share the joy of the season with the Honourable Minister and to thank and appreciate him for being a divine instrument for making an Izzi son the Governor of Ebonyi State.
He said the people of Izzi are people of gratitude and reciprocity and would forever honour the Honourable Minister for his invaluable support that made the feat possible.
“For the fire of favour, fire of blessings, fire of development, that you have ignited here, we say thank you, Your Excellency. We don’t have much to say or give you. Silver or Gold, we don’t have. But what we came here with is words of appreciation and heart of gratitude. We are so much happy,Your Excellency. We will forever be happy, Your Excellency”
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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