• Super Admin
• 07 Mar, 2026

No fewer than 691 female entrepreneurs have been trained in public procurement processes under the Scaling Women's Economic Empowerment through Affirmative Procurement project. The programme, organised by the Chevening Alumni Association of Nigeria in collaboration with DO Take Action Association of Nigeria, was concluded at a reception held on February 24 at the British High Commissioner's Residence, according to a statement shared with Saturday PUNCH. The President of the Chevening Alumni Association, Kester Osahenye, and the Chief Executive Officer of DO Take Action Association of Nigeria, Precious Chinonso, said the event brought together procurement regulators, development partners and private sector leaders to review the impact of the project and discuss ways to expand gender-responsive procurement policies across Nigeria. According to the statement, the training equipped the women with technical knowledge of procurement procedures, compliance requirements and competitive bidding strategies needed to access government contracts. Speaking at the event, the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Lever, highlighted the significance of the initiative in advancing inclusive economic growth and the United Kingdom's support for women's economic empowerment. She said the programme, supported through the Chevening Alumni Programme Fund, had already produced tangible results. "It is inspiring to see the impact our Chevening alumni are driving across Nigeria. Through programmes like SWEEAP, we are already seeing clear results: 691 beneficiaries trained and over 500 women-owned businesses now pursuing procurement opportunities in Kano and Rivers states," Lever said. Also speaking, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Adebowale Adedokun, said the bureau was advancing reforms aimed at strengthening the participation of women-owned businesses within the country's procurement system. He explained that ongoing amendments to the Public Procurement Act would introduce measures to support community-based procurement and lower entry barriers for small businesses. According to him, contracts valued below ₦15m would be prioritised for qualified businesses within local government areas under a simplified documentation framework designed to support women-led enterprises. The Director-General of the Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement, Ine Briggs, also reaffirmed the agency's commitment to expanding opportunities for women in the procurement ecosystem. She said the bureau would integrate more women-owned businesses into its contractor database while deliberately encouraging their participation in government bidding processes. Briggs added that the agency would continue to provide training, advertise procurement opportunities and track measurable outcomes to ensure women entrepreneurs were not excluded from public contracting. Earlier, a representative of the Chevening Alumni Association of Nigeria, Femi Adedipe, described the project as an example of the impact alumni-driven initiatives could achieve in strengthening inclusive economic reforms. In her remarks, Chinonso emphasised that access to public procurement opportunities was critical for the growth of women-owned businesses. She noted that when public procurement systems are structured inclusively, they can serve as powerful tools for job creation, sustainable economic growth and greater equity for women entrepreneurs. The event ended with calls for stronger collaboration among government agencies, development partners and the private sector to institutionalise inclusive procurement systems and sustain progress toward women's economic empowerment in Nigeria. At the end of the programme, three women entrepreneurs secured public procurement contracts, with award decisions directly linked to the enhanced competencies and preparedness gained through the training. Source: https://www.ghanamma.com/2026/03/07/691-women-in-procurement-trained-for-nigerian-contracts/