World Bank-SPESSE Mission Commends FUTO Centre for Outstanding Performance

The Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) Centre of Excellence in Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards (CE-sPESS) has received commendation from the World Bank-supported Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement (SPESSE) Project for its performance in implementing the programme.

The commendation came on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 during a World Bank Technical Support Mission to the Centre, with the National Co-ordinator of SPESSE and Director, Special Projects, National Universities Commission (NUC), Dr Joshua Atah, disclosing that FUTO CE-sPESS is on course to become the first of the six SPESSE Centres of Excellence in Nigeria to graduate students from its undergraduate programme.

Dr Atah also assured the Centre that the NUC would be represented at its convocation in recognition of its performance under the programme.

The commendation was echoed by Ishtiak Siddique, Lead Procurement Specialist and Task Team Lead for SPESSE, who specifically praised FUTO CE-sPESS for meeting its targets, particularly in the implementation of its Master's programme.

Representing FUTO CE-sPESS during the mission were the Centre Leader, Prof. G.A. Chukwudebe, who participated virtually; the Deputy Director, Procurement and Resource Management (PRM), Prof. B.U. Dike; Deputy Director, Social and Environmental Standards (SES), Prof. C.O. Nwoko; and Deputy Director, Social Standards Development (SSD), Prof. J.N. Ogbulie.

Others were the Account Officer, Mrs Charity Ezike; Health and Safety Environmental Officer, Dr J.E. Umunnakwe; Project Management Officer/Logistics and Transport, Engr. Dr M.I. Nmecha; Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Dr H.C. Iwu; and Communication Officer, Dr C.D. Sunny-Adikwu.

The Centre's progress adds to FUTO's contribution to national capacity development in procurement, environmental management, and social standards, while its anticipated first cohort of undergraduate graduates is expected to mark an important development in the implementation of the SPESSE programme in Nigeria.