About & Objectives

SPESSE UNIBEN is an Africa Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Procurement, Environmental, and Social Standards, hosted at the University of Benin.

About the Centre

SPESSE UNIBEN builds professional and academic capacity in Sustainable Procurement, Environmental Standards, and Social Standards for Nigeria and the wider West African sub-region. Operating with support from the World Bank-funded ACE Impact project, the Centre delivers a spectrum of programmes — from short executive courses to postgraduate diplomas and master's degrees — designed to translate directly into stronger institutions, more transparent public spending, and more sustainable practice on the ground.

Through applied research, industry partnerships, and rigorous quality assurance, SPESSE UNIBEN aims to become a self-sustaining regional hub for sustainable standards training and practice.

Our Objectives

  1. Build advanced technical capacity in Sustainable Procurement, Environmental Standards, and Social Standards practice across Nigeria and the wider West African sub-region.

  2. Deliver internationally benchmarked postgraduate and professional programmes, from Executive Short Courses and Advanced Certificates through Postgraduate Diplomas and MSc degrees.

  3. Strengthen applied research and knowledge generation that informs public and private sector sustainability standards and policy.

  4. Foster partnerships with government, industry, and development partners — including the World Bank-funded ACE Impact project — to translate learning directly into practice.

  5. Promote inclusive access to training, prioritising regional diversity and gender balance among applicants, staff, and graduates.

  6. Establish a self-sustaining Centre of Excellence through rigorous quality assurance, accreditation, and revenue-generating executive programmes.