A four-day capacity-building and sensitization programme on public procurement principles and the Abia State Public Procurement Law was held in Umuahia, the state capital, from May 19 to 22, 2025.

The programme was Organized by Abia State Due Process and Public Procurement Bureau in partnership with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA). It formed part of the European Union-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Due Process and Head of the Bureau, Dr. Oluebube A. Chukwu, welcomed participants and partners to the state. He commended the organisers for selecting Abia as one of the beneficiary states for the initiative.

Dr. Chukwu noted that the objectives of the programme align closely with the vision of Governor Alex Otti to restructure Abia through transparency, due process, and institutional reforms. According to him, strengthening procurement practices is vital to curbing corruption and promoting good governance.

He assured the organisers of the state government’s full cooperation and the Bureau’s readiness to implement key reforms that support accountability in public spending. “We are committed to aligning our processes with international best practices and the anti-corruption reforms promoted by ROLAC,” he said.

The programme also featured a presentation by the Programme Manager for Anti-Corruption under ROLAC, who outlined the broader goals of the EU-funded initiative. He emphasized the importance of procurement reform as a cornerstone of institutional integrity in public service.

Participants at the event included procurement officers, civil servants, and representatives of civil society organisations. They received intensive training on procurement law, transparency frameworks, and mechanisms for ensuring compliance in public contracts.

The sensitization programme is expected to deepen awareness and strengthen the institutional capacity of relevant stakeholders, thereby fostering a more accountable and transparent governance culture in Abia State.

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