Inauguration of ODBPP Board – Governor’s Speech and Photos

Protocols

I welcome you formally to the inauguration ceremony of the Ondo State Board on Public Procurement. It is important to recall that this administration, on assumption of office, as a demonstration of its commitment to embrace governance reforms took a bold step by signing into Laws four different governance reform-focused Bills namely: the Fiscal Responsibility Law, the Public Finance Management Law, Audit Law and the Public Procurement Law.

On behalf of the government and the good people of Ondo State, I wish to place on record our gratitude to the Speaker of the House, the Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oleyeloogun; the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Iroju Ogundeji and the entire members of the State Assembly who worked tirelessly to ensure the timely passage of these Bills.

Today’s event is epochal because it represents one of the stepping stones towards the domestication of global best practices in public procurement by Ondo State Government. Permit me to emphasize that, in every clime where global best practices have been institutionalized as a critical element of governance reforms, the citizens have always been the ultimate beneficiary. In terms of institutionalizing governance reforms, I am proud to announce that, going by the current rating of the international development partners/bilateral institutions, Ondo State ranks amongst the best three in the whole Federation.

The importance of this epoch-making occasion cannot be over-emphasized in view of the incontrovertible fact that the Public Procurement Law will change and revolutionize the way we have always gone about our contract management process. I am sure that you have heard that only fools do things the same way all the times and expect different results. On the strength of this, it is now imperative that, in Ondo State, we must continue to think anew and act anew.

Given our commitment to fully implement the procurement reforms and the calibre of men we have assembled to spearhead our procurement reforms, I am optimistic that, in no distant future, Ondo State will top the table. I have implicit confidence in the quality and capacity of in-coming members of the Board to deliver on their mandate.

May I passionately ask for the support and cooperation of all and sundry in our various establishments to make this reform work. As I said during the SIFMIS inauguration, those who find the reforms too innovative for their comfort can seek alternatives elsewhere.

The fact that we decided to inaugurate the Procurement Board at this critical period, when the Covid-19 famously known as the Coronavirus pandemic is ravaging the entire world, without compromising any safety protocols attests to this administration’s commitment to governance. It is pertinent to add that in fulfillment of our constitutional roles and oath of office to protect and preserve the lives and properties of the citizens, this government has been demonstrating its capacity and commitment to contain the virus.

I seize the opportunity of this occasion to express, on behalf of the government and people of Ondo State, my profound gratitude to all the health workers, who are battling the virus from the frontlines, working assiduously, selflessly and at greater risks to their personal safety. Please, rest assured that your labour of love will not be in vain.

To all and sundry, I must reiterate that, the responsibility to flatten the curve of the pandemic is not the exclusive preserve of the government and health workers only because Covid-19 requires the concerted efforts of all of us. We must religiously observe, imbibe and implement all the safety protocols, which are being propagated through the traditional and new media by authorized handles. These protocols include social distancing, regular hand washing, wearing of face masks, timely notification of appropriate authorities in case of any symptomatic individuals, enforcing the interstate lockdown etc.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, by the power conferred on me as the Executive Governor of Ondo State I hereby inaugurate the Ondo State Board on Public Procurement with members as follows:

1. Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN: Chairman
2. Mr Tolu Fadahunsi: Director-General, Ondo State Bureau of Public Procurement - Member
   Pastor Emmanuel Igbasan: Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget - Member

4. Mr Adekola Olawoye, SAN: Attorney-General and Hon. Commissioner for Justice - Member

5. Mr Ifedayo Abegunde: Secretary to the State Government – Member

6. Mr Oluwadare Aragbaiye: Head of Service - Member
7. Mr Adewale Akinterinwa: Commissioner for Finance – Member

8. Otito Atikase: Chairman representing 18 Local Government Chairmen - Member

9. Benjamin Idowu: - Member, representing Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supplies (CIPS)

10. Builder Dele Akinyan: Member, representing construction-related bodies

11. Mr Abayomi Ojo Michael: Member, representing Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)

12. Pharm. Samuel Adekola: Member, representing Pharmaceutical Society  of Nigeria (PSN)

13. Sir David Ologun: Member, representing Accounting-related bodies

14. Prof Ayo Arowojolu: Member, representing Tertiary Institutions
15. Pastor Ifeanyi Odili: Member, representing Civil Society Organizations

 

Congratulations and Best wishes.

 

Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN
Governor of Ondo State
August 25, 2021