ABU urges vulnerable groups to embrace W/Bank funded programs

The Director, Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement Centre of Excellence (SPESSECE), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Prof. Mohammed Yunusa, has urged vulnerable groups in the country to embrace the centre’s programmes that are funded by the World Bank.

Prof. Yunusa made the plea yesterday in Abuja during a stakeholders’ forum organized by SPESSECE.

He said that the National Universities Commission (NUC) and World Bank have always encouraged the centre to ensure that vulnerable groups were involved to enable them to acquire more knowledge.

According to him, the centre has experienced instructors to teach internationally accredited courses both online and hybrid and is presently engaged with master’s degree programmes in procurement management, sustainable environmental studies and social development studies.

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He said that the centre was established in 2019 by the NUC in collaboration with World Bank to bridge the knowledge and skill gaps in sustainable procurement, environment and social standards education in the private and public sectors.

Also speaking, Prof. Samaila Mande, a marketing and communications consultant, urged all heads of Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to nominate staff members so that they can benefit from the programmes at the SPESSECE, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.

He said since the training is funded by the World Bank, participants nominated for short or long-term programmes in the centre pay tokens for the internationally recognized certificate and degree programmes.

Also, the Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, represented by Prof. Muktar Bello, Director, Academic Planning and Monitoring, assured that the centre was working hard to ensure that the programmes are able to achieve their mandate.

He said: “We are far behind the rescheduling but we are doing everything possible to ensure that we achieve the goals of the centre.”