World Bank hails SPESSE certification exams, stresses standards
By Uji A Iliyasu, Abuja
The World Bank has commended the Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement (SPESSE) Environmental Node for commencing professional certification examinations, describing the development as a major milestone in the project’s implementation.
The Bank said the commencement of the certification exams marked SPESSE’s transition from theoretical capacity building to practical, standards-based certification.
This was disclosed during the recently concluded Implementation Support Mission on the SPESSE Project, held between November and December 2025, during which a World Bank delegation paid a focused visit to the SPESSE Environmental Node hosted by the Environmental Assessment Department of the Federal Ministry of Environment.
Receiving the delegation, the Director of the Environmental Assessment Department, Mrs Rofikat Adebunkola Odetoro, reaffirmed the Department’s commitment to establishing certification systems under SPESSE that are credible, transparent and institutionally sustainable.
Speaking during the visit, the World Bank Task Team Leader, Mr Ishtiak Siddiqe, praised the Environmental Node for initiating certification activities but cautioned against measuring success solely by the number of certificates issued.
According to him, the long-term value of SPESSE certifications will depend on the credibility, governance and verifiability of the systems supporting the process, particularly the National Environmental Standards Certification Programme (NESCP).
He stressed that verification is not an administrative routine but the foundation for building confidence in SPESSE certifications among development partners, government institutions and the professional community.
“For the Environmental Node, this underscores the need to align operational practices with verification standards that underpin the credibility of the certification system,” Siddiqe said.
The engagement, the Bank noted, went beyond routine progress assessment, reflecting its focus on strengthening institutional systems capable of sustaining SPESSE outcomes beyond the Project’s lifespan.
A key area of discussion was the independent verification framework embedded in SPESSE’s results-based financing structure. The World Bank team outlined the expectations, indicators and assessment methods that will guide future verification exercises.
In his response, SPESSE Environmental Node Project Coordinator, Mr Hussain Shittu, said operational practices were being aligned with these standards, with systems in place to ensure comprehensive digital records, clear audit trails and accessible participant data through the certification portal.
He added that the entire certification process—from application and screening to examinations and issuance—is fully digitised to promote transparency, consistency and traceability.
Governance arrangements also featured prominently, with emphasis placed on formal certification approval structures such as boards and secretariats to ensure institutional legitimacy and public confidence.
As SPESSE approaches project closure and potential additional financing, the World Bank reiterated that effective standards systems must be built on strong governance, rigorous verification and institutional discipline to deliver lasting impact.