By Nkechi Eze
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has pledged to deepen its collaboration with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) in order to strengthen transparency, accountability, and due process in government transactions while also engaging Nigerian youths as champions of national development.
The NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, gave the assurance when he received the Director General of BPP, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, and his entourage during a courtesy visit to the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters in Abuja.
In an official statement signed by Caroline Embu, Director of Information and Public Relations, NYSC, General Nafiu commended the BPP for its unwavering support in guiding the Scheme’s procurement processes over the years, noting that strict adherence to due process has been a guiding principle for the Corps.
“BPP is a regulatory body that should be supported to enhance more accountability, professionalism, standardization, and optimization of government resources committed to the various MDAs,” he stated. “We will continue to collaborate, take a cue and follow due process so that we don’t fall out of line. We also have a Community Development Service (CDS) group through which we can deepen our collaboration.”
In his remarks, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun emphasized the need to curb corruption through reforms in procurement, stressing that ongoing changes in the procurement process must be fully embraced by Nigerians. He hailed the NYSC’s role in instilling patriotism and discipline in Nigerian youths, noting that the Scheme remains the only institution capable of shaping the next generation into a cadre of citizens who will love and serve the country with commitment.
“NYSC is critical to national development because it can raise the next step of leaders that will drive Nigeria’s engineering, infrastructural development, agricultural sector, and entrepreneurship for value creation,” Adedokun said.
He further explained that part of BPP’s mandate is public advocacy and enlightenment, achieved through partnerships with agencies such as the NYSC, to entrench the basic principles of procurement practices. According to him, this will not only help government agencies perform maximally but also ensure optimal utilization of national resources.
Dr. Adebowale requested the participation of the Bureau in the NYSC Orientation Course, where corps members can be sensitized on the importance of procurement to national development, ongoing reforms anchored on due process, and the effective management of public assets.
“We are here to seek further collaboration and strengthen the existing partnership with NYSC to drive national growth and economic development,” the BPP Director General affirmed.
