Blockchain Technology for Project Procurement Transparency in Nigerian Public Sector: A Design Science Research Study

Blockchain technology offers transformative potential for improving procurement transparency and reducing corruption in public sector project management, yet no design science investigation of its applicability to Nigerian public procurement has been conducted. This study applies design science research (DSR) methodology to design, develop, and evaluate a blockchain-based procurement transparency artefact for Nigerian public sector project management. The DSR process will involve problem identification through stakeholder workshops, artefact design informed by requirements elicitation from procurement experts across six geopolitical zones, prototype development using Ethereum smart contracts, and evaluation through expert usability testing and simulated procurement scenarios. The artefact will be assessed against transparency, immutability, auditability, and user adoption criteria. This study constitutes an original design science contribution to public sector project management technology in Nigeria, generating both an artefact and a mid-range theory of blockchain-enabled procurement transparency applicable to developing country contexts. Findings will inform the Bureau of Public Procurement's digital transformation roadmap. Keywords: blockchain, procurement transparency, public sector, design science research, Nigeria