World Bank praises SPESSE certification exams, insists on credibility, transparency
The World Bank has commended the sustainable procurement, environmental and social standards Enhancement (SPESSE) environmental node for commencing professional certification examinations.
A World Bank task team gave the commendation during a visit to the SPESSE environmental node, hosted by the environmental assessment department of the federal ministry of environment in Abuja.
Ishtiak Siddiqe, who led the team, described the development as a critical milestone that marks the transition of the SPESSE project from theoretical capacity building to standards-based certification in practice.
He noted that the certification exercise is a key outcome of the recently concluded implementation support mission on the SPESSE project, held between November and December 2025.
Siddiqe praised the environmental node for initiating certification activities but cautioned that success should not be measured merely by the volume of certificates issued.
He stressed that the long-term value of the programme would depend on the credibility, governance, and verifiability of the systems underpinning the certification process, particularly the national environmental Standards Certification Programme, (NESCP).
According to him, verification is not an administrative formality but the foundation upon which confidence in SPESSE certifications is built among development partners, government institutions, and the professional community.
“For the Environmental Node, this reinforces the need to align operational practices with the verification standards that underpin the credibility of the certification system,” he said.
Governance arrangements also featured prominently as the task team underscored the importance of formal certification approval structures, including certification boards and secretariats, to ensure institutional legitimacy.
The team acknowledged this requirement, disclosing that steps are being taken to align the Environmental Node’s certification governance with established practices across other SPESSE Nodes and relevant national institutions, in order to strengthen institutional ownership and public confidence.
Rofikat Odetoro, director of environmental assessment at the federal ministry of environment, who received the task team on behalf of the environmental node, reaffirmed the department’s commitment to building certification systems under SPESSE that are credible, transparent, and institutionally sustainable.
Hussain Shittu, the SPESSE environmental node project Coordinator, explained that operational practices are being aligned with the standards, noting that there are systems in place to ensure comprehensive digital records, clear audit trails, and accessible participant data on the certification portal.
Shittu added that the entire certification process, from application and screening to examinations and issuance, is managed through a digital platform designed to promote consistency, transparency, and traceability.
Beyond certification processes, the team’s discussions also linWorld Bank hails SPESSE certification exams, insists on credibility and transparency.
