Dr Adebowale Adedokun, Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), has been honoured with the Sir Ahmadu Bello Integrity Legacy Award by the Northern Youth Organisation of Nigeria.
A statement by Zira Nagga, BPP’s Head of Media and Public Relations in Abuja on Friday, said Adedokun was also conferred with the traditional title of Garkuwan Matasan Arewa by the organisation.
The statement quoted the President of the organisation, Dr Isah Ododo, as saying that the honour was in recognition of Adedokun’s outstanding contributions to public sector reforms, transparency, accountability, youth development and prudent management of public resources.
Ododo spoke during a courtesy visit by the organisation to the BPP headquarters in Abuja. He added that the BPP boss emerged as the recipient after a rigorous selection process involving other distinguished Nigerians.
He said Adedokun’s commitment to national development, youth advocacy and reforms in the public procurement system distinguished him for the award.
Responding, Adedokun expressed appreciation for the recognition, describing it as both an honour and a challenge to do more in the service of the nation.
“I want to assure you that we will be very fair in every sector in our decision-making,” he said.
The director-general urged Nigerian youths to channel their energy towards productive engagement by taking advantage of government initiatives aimed at empowering young people, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s youth development agenda.
“It pays to build and it’s destructive to destroy. Government resources spent on rebuilding destroyed infrastructure are resources that would have been used for new development projects.”
Adedokun highlighted several government initiatives designed to empower youths, including education financing, entrepreneurship support, infrastructure development and procurement reforms that create opportunities for youth-owned enterprises.
He called on youth organisations to collaborate with government institutions in sensitising young people to available opportunities while promoting responsible citizenship.
The BPP boss also pledged support for mentorship and capacity-building programmes to equip youths with the skills, values and knowledge required for national development.
“The approvals made daily are centred on the youth, SMEs, roads and educational institutions are not for old people, but done for the youth,” he said.
Adedokun further noted that the bureau remained committed to youth empowerment, adding that more than 60 per cent of its workforce comprised of young people.
According to him, recent procurement reforms approved by the President, including the Nigeria First Policy and community-based procurement are expanding opportunities for youths by enabling them to bid online for local projects without travelling to Abuja.
Adedokun reaffirmed the bureau’s commitment to promoting transparency, fairness and inclusive participation in public procurement as part of ongoing reforms to support national development.
(NAN)
