The Kogi State Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project has reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, fairness and accountability in its procurement processes as the bidding process for the provision of vocational kits for Out-of-School Girls in the state entered the public bid-opening stage.
The State Project Coordinator of Kogi AGILE, Alhaji Ahmed Tijani Oricha, stated this during the public opening of bids for the procurement of the vocational kits held at the Kogi State AGILE Project Office, Lokoja.
Oricha emphasised the importance of strict adherence to established procurement procedures, noting that transparent and accountable processes were essential to ensuring that resources committed to the AGILE Project were effectively utilised to achieve the desired impact on its beneficiaries.
He noted that the AGILE Project complements the efforts of the Kogi State Government to strengthen the education sector and expand learning and empowerment opportunities for girls across the state.
The State Project Coordinator further urged participating bidders and observers to closely follow the proceedings and maintain order throughout the exercise, assuring them that the procurement process would be conducted in accordance with applicable procedures and requirements.
Speaking on the procurement process, the Project Procurement Officer, Mr. Muhammad Ibrahim Babaeje, disclosed that five companies purchased the bidding documents, while three successfully submitted their bids before the expiration of the deadline.
He explained that the bidding period, which commenced on August 3, 2026, closed at 12:00 noon on September 2, 2026, after which no further bids were accepted.
Babaeje said the bid box was inspected by representatives of participating companies, procurement officials and other observers before it was opened. The inspection confirmed that the box was securely locked and showed no indication of prior tampering.
He added that the three bids received before the deadline were subsequently opened publicly, with the names of the participating companies and their respective bid prices read out and recorded in the official Bid Price Read-Out Sheet.
The Project Procurement Technical Assistant, Mr. Muhammad Goodluck, clarified that the public opening of the bids represented only an initial stage of the procurement process and did not determine the successful bidder.
He explained that the submitted bids would proceed to detailed evaluation in line with the applicable procurement procedures and requirements before a decision is reached on the outcome of the procurement exercise.
The Deputy Project Coordinator, Hajia Aminat Suliema, and the Sub-Component Lead for Alternative Education, Hajia Mariam Bello, thanked the participating bidders, observers and Project staff for their cooperation and participation in the exercise.
Participants and observers at the exercise expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the bid opening.
A Civil Society Organisation representative, Mr. Audu Emmanuel, commended the process and encouraged prospective bidders to ensure timely submission of bids in future procurement exercises, stressing the importance of complying with stipulated deadlines.
Similarly, Mr. Joshua Godwin, representing Johnkol Ventures Limited, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the bid opening exercise.
A Procurement Officer from a sister project, Mr. Adeolu Oshadare, also commended the process and wished the Kogi AGILE Project success in the subsequent stages of the procurement exercise.
The public bid opening exercise was subsequently concluded, with the procurement process expected to proceed to the evaluation stage in accordance with the approved procurement procedures.
