The Procurement Department of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, has organized its maiden departmental seminar aimed at strengthening professionalism, transparency and efficiency in public procurement practice. The seminar, held on Saturday, 1st August, 2026, at the Mini Auditorium of the Hospital, was themed “Public Procurement Practice in the Public Sector Economy: Challenges and Prospects.”
Declaring the seminar open, the Chief Medical Director, Prof. John Okeniyi, described the Procurement Department as a critical component of every government institution, noting that its responsibility of procuring quality goods and services directly impacts organizational efficiency and service delivery. He commended the Director of Procurement for his leadership in organizing the maiden seminar and expressed appreciation to members of the department for their dedication, professionalism and commitment to duty over the years.
In his welcome address, the Director of Procurement, Mr. Abiodun Eluyemi, appreciated the Chief Medical Director for providing an enabling environment for the department to thrive. He urged participants to maximize the opportunity presented by the workshop, noting that procurement is a collaborative process involving all stakeholders, including engineers, end-users and other professionals who provide technical specifications for goods and services.
In his goodwill message, the Director of Administration, Dr. Ayodeji Bobade, lauded the department for fostering cordial relationships with both serving and retired staff members. He also commended the department’s commitment to excellence and its initiative in organizing the seminar.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Prof. Josephine Eziyi, described the seminar theme as timely and highly relevant to the public sector. She noted that public procurement remains a vital pillar for accountability, transparency, value for money and efficient service delivery. She emphasized that continuous changes in procurement policies, regulations and professional practices make capacity-building workshops essential for enhancing professional competence. She encouraged participants to actively engage in the sessions, embrace innovative ideas and apply the knowledge acquired towards improving procurement practices, institutional performance and public confidence.
Delivering the first lecture titled “Procurement Practices and Service Delivery in Public Hospitals,“ the pioneer Director of the Procurement Department, Mrs. Margaret Olurounbi, emphasized that effective procurement practices are indispensable for improving healthcare delivery in public hospitals.
She explained that healthcare procurement encompasses the acquisition of pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, construction projects, consultancy services and other essential goods and services. According to her, a standard procurement process begins with needs assessment and budgetary appropriation before progressing through advertisement, transparent tendering, bid evaluation, contract award and project implementation.
Mrs. Olurounbi noted that efficient procurement guarantees the timely availability of quality medical supplies, promotes affordability through bulk purchasing and direct procurement from manufacturers, enhances patient safety through the acquisition of certified medical devices and ensures value for money in public healthcare expenditure.
The second lecture, titled “Public Procurement and Corruption: A Legal Perspective,” was delivered by Mr. Julius Ogar of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). He described public procurement as one of the largest areas of government expenditure and warned that weak procurement systems create opportunities for corruption, wastage and poor service delivery.
Mr. Ogar identified bribery, contract inflation, bid rigging, kickbacks, contract splitting and payment for unexecuted projects as common procurement-related corrupt practices. He attributed these challenges to weak institutional frameworks, political interference, inadequate transparency, poor monitoring mechanisms and insufficient sanctions.
He further explained that procurement corruption can occur throughout the procurement cycle from needs assessment and bidding processes to contract implementation and final payment. He advocated transparent procurement procedures, adoption of e-procurement systems, regular audits, whistleblower protection, ethics training and strict enforcement of the Public Procurement Act as measures to curb corruption.
Delivering the final lecture titled “Essential Components of a Good Procurement Process,” Mr. Abiodun Eluyemi highlighted the core principles that underpin an effective procurement system.
He identified economy, efficiency, fairness, transparency, accountability and ethical conduct as the guiding principles of public procurement. He also discussed various procurement methods, including open competitive bidding, direct procurement, request for quotation and emergency procurement, stressing that each method must comply with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act.
He urged all stakeholders to embrace teamwork, due diligence and strict compliance with procurement regulations, noting that effective procurement enhances cost savings, quality assurance, budget control, fraud prevention and improved healthcare service delivery.
Photo Credit: Umar Balogun
