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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The Federal University of Technology Owerri Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Procurement , Environmental & Social Standards (FUTO CE-sPESS ) has flagged off a 5-day Master Class Track A and B training workshop at National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Abia state.
The workshop which is holding in Abia state for the second time, is part of the umbrella programme of the World Bank and the NUC called Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement (SPESSE) project designed to bridge observed skill gap.
Delivering her address at the event, the Centre Director, FUTO CE-SPESS, Professor Gloria Chukwudebe said the key benefits of SPESSE project is capacity building of public servants, the Federal and State government Ministries, Departments and Agencies and educational institutions on procurement Management, Environmental and Social Standards.
She explained that getting procurement right will reduce challenges in the society such as poverty, bad roads, poorly equipped hospitals, schools etc. She further said that the workshop would produce well informed environmental and social safeguard officers.
Professor Chukwudebe noted that getting procurement right is complex and requires the cooperation of many knowledgeable professionals and government officials, hence the project is packaged with Tripple- Helix model whereby academia, public and private sectors are partners in the project implementation.
The Director expressed appreciation to partners which include NRCRI, Umudike, NEWMAP, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike led by Professor Maduebibisi Iwe for their support, adding that Procurement Management, Environmental and Social Standards classes will hold concurrently during the days of the workshop.
In his speech, the Vice Chancellor of Michael Okpara University Agriculture, Professor Maduebibisi Iwe challenged the participants on environmental standards and safety, resource management.
Also, the Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology (FUT0), Professor Nnenna Oti who was represented by Professor Alex Opara, said that FUTO is collaborating with NRCRI and MOUAU in developing specialized root crops to alleviate hunger and appreciated the Executive Director of NRCRI, Professor Chidozie Egesi for hosting the training workshop.
In his own welcome address, the Executive Director of National Root Crop Research Institute, Umudike, Professor Chidozie Egesi who was represented by Dr Tessy Madu, said that the institution has recorded milestones in the fight against hunger, poverty and unemployment under his watch.
He listed the achievements to include the development of yam, cocoyam, cassava foods and other verities that are climate resistant.
