The Federal Government has disclosed plans to amend the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) Act, 2007 to cater for increased women participation in public procurement.
Mammon Ahmadu, the director-general of BPP made this known during the 2023 Africa regional conference in Abuja, organised by Weconnect International.
According to Ahmadu, the bureau has received several nudges towards improving the involvement of businesses owned by women in public procurement.
He acknowledged the challenges women face in terms of policy drive and establishment of the legal framework for the actualisation of economic goals, adding that they were not new and indeed a norm at the developmental stage of any project objective.
“So, being part of this long haul to the establishment of an effective environment for furthering the conversation around diversity and inclusion as it pertains to women-owned businesses is very satisfying,”
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The DG, who was represented by Eugenia Ojeah, the chief procurement officer at the bureau, stressed the need for women-owned businesses to take advantage of the platform currently provided by the PPA, 2007 and all extant regulations and policy documents on public procurement as it provides a wide wing for women to thrive.
“When women acquire training, information, skills coupled with specific expertise, commitment, accountability and dedication, the train of diversity and inclusion will move very fast and more smoothly.
“The BPP has a very standard training department to assist to provide training to aid participate for and has some formidable women working in the organisation and it will be a pleasure to see more women participation in public procurement through effective collaboration and networking,” he said.
Also speaking, Zainab Ahmed, the minister of finance, budget and national planning, noted that the importance of the conference cannot be overemphasised, as it creates the right platform for participants to harness the entrepreneurial skills for effective and efficient management of their businesses.
The minister represented by Olusola Baba, the director of human resources at the ministry, stated that women’s participation in business enterprises has attracted much attention from policymakers, researchers, NGOs, government, and international agencies, due to women’s involvement in income generation.
Yeshua Russel, country director, WEConnect International, commended the entrepreneurship skills of Nigerian women.
