In a bid to facilitate women’s economic empowerment, the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency has collaborated with the UN Women to train Women-owned businesses to enable them to benefit from public procurement opportunities in Lagos State.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the three-day training performance, the Director-General, Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, Mr. Fatai Idowu Onafowote, pointed out that although women constitute a large percent of the population, statistics indicate that most of them are economically disadvantaged, particularly in public procurement opportunities.
While describing the situation as “Unhealthy for societal stability’’, Mr. Onafowote stated that this informed the policy of the Lagos State Government to encourage and support women and youth to acquire skills and vocations which would allow them to compete favourably for access to business opportunities in the State.
The Director-General stated that as an important vehicle for the delivery of the development Agenda of the present administration in the State, the Agency has continued to organise a series of advocacy and sensitisation programmes to support affirmative procurement in the State.
He added that in collaboration with the UN Women, the Agency had organised sensitisation and training programmes for Accounting Officers of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, procurement specialists and women-owned businesses with a view to ensuring the economic empowerment of women-owned businesses through opportunities in public procurement in the State.
Mr. Onafowote further pointed out that the State Government had reviewed its T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda to T.H.E.M.E.S. Plus this year in demonstration of its desire to focus special attention to gender equality, social inclusion and the youth and other vulnerable groups in the State.
He noted that the State Government recognizes that Small and Medium Enterprises contribute a lion’s share of the economy of the State, adding that since the sector is dominated by women, the State Government is already focusing attention on areas of support for women-owned businesses in the State.
The Director-General also identified some of the challenges facing women-owned businesses, including lack of access to capital, sexual harassment, some negative cultural practices and norms, lack of information and among others.
Mr. Onafowote also stated that the Agency takes the adoption of Information Communication Technology very seriously in carrying out its procurement process. Hence, he urged women-owned businesses to equip themselves with the necessary skills required for participation and benefiting from public procurement opportunities.
He expressed appreciation to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the immense support and encouragement given to the Agency. He also thanked the Honourable Speaker and members of the Lagos State House of Assembly for providing the necessary Legislative support for the Agency’s activities and programmes.
Also speaking during the training programme, the UN Women Deputy Country Representative, Mr. Lansana Wonneh, commended the Lagos State Government for its support in driving the affirmative procurement initiatives in the State.
Mr. Wonneh pointed out that enhanced access to participate in and benefit from public procurement provides an economically viable option for advancing economic opportunities and strengthening the resilience of women-owned and women-led businesses post-COVID-19 recovery.
The UN Women Deputy Country Representative further explained that the programme – Women Economic Empowerment through Affirmative Procurement – is an African Development Bank and UN Women collaboration that is funded by the WeFi initiative.
He added that through the programme, UN Women is committed to supporting policy and legal reform on procurement, while strengthening the capacity of both public officials and women-owned businesses in Nigeria.
In an address delivered at the training programme, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Oluyemi Kalesanwo, stated that the State Government was working hard to create an enabling environment that fosters gender equality and inclusive economic empowerment.
While stressing that collaborations and partnerships could help identify gaps, share best practices and develop strategies to promote the inclusion of women entrepreneurs in public procurement, Mrs. Kalesanwo commended the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency for its commitment to gender equality and inclusive economic development.
During the training programme held at R & A City Hotels, Ikeja, Lagos, participants were trained on a wide range of subjects, including eligibility and requirements for registration, tendering and documentation process, contract management and evaluation, compliance and ethics as well as accessing business support and financing opportunities among others.
