Onome Amuge
Efforts to promote gender equality and inclusive economic participation in Nigeria’s public procurement systems are gaining momentum with the launch of a high-level stakeholders forum in Kano State, organised under the Scaling Women’s Economic Empowerment through Affirmative Procurement (SWEEAP) initiative. The forum, scheduled for February 4–5, 2026, represents a key step in embedding gender-responsive reforms across government contracting and budgeting processes.
The event, convened by the Chevening Alumni Association Nigeria (CAAN) in partnership with DO Take Action and supported by the Chevening Alumni Programme Fund of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), will take place at the Sa’adu Zungur Auditorium Complex in Gwammaja, Kano. It brings together senior government officials, policymakers, development partners, private sector leaders, civil society organisations, and women entrepreneurs to examine systemic gaps in procurement and explore collaborative approaches to inclusive reform.
SWEEAP is designed to tackle persistent gender disparities in public contracting by supporting the adoption of Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB) and Gender-Responsive Procurement (GRP) frameworks. The programme also equips Women-Owned and Led Businesses (WOLBs) with the knowledge, tools, and capacity required to compete effectively for government contracts, addressing long-standing barriers that have limited women’s economic participation in the formal sector.
The forum in Kano will begin with a Train-the-Trainers Workshop for procurement officers, gender desk officers, and civil society actors. The workshop will focus on practical strategies for embedding gender-responsive principles into state-level procurement and budgeting processes, emphasising sustainability and institutional adoption.
The following day, the High-Level Stakeholders Engagement Forum, themed “Advancing Gender-Responsive Budgeting and Affirmative Procurement for Inclusive Development in Nigeria,” will feature policy discussions, best-practice sharing, and strategic dialogue aimed at strengthening affirmative procurement systems. The forum will also host the graduation ceremony of women entrepreneurs who have completed the SWEEAP capacity-building programme, marking a milestone in preparing participants to engage competitively with public procurement opportunities.
Speaking on the initiative, Oluwafunmilayo Ladepo, Chevening Programme Officer at the British High Commission in Nigeria, said the UK government’s support through the Chevening Alumni Programme Fund demonstrates the international commitment to inclusive governance and economic empowerment. “Convenings such as this in Kano State are critical to advancing gender-responsive procurement and driving sustainable economic inclusion,” she noted.
Kester Osahenye, President of CAAN, emphasised the role of alumni networks in promoting development outcomes. “By bringing together policymakers, institutions, and women entrepreneurs in Kano State, we are supporting practical reforms that make procurement systems more inclusive and equitable,” he said.
Precious Ebere Chinonso, CEO of DO Take Action, highlighted the strategic importance of affirmative procurement for women’s economic empowerment. “Through SWEEAP, we are working with institutions and stakeholders to ensure that women-owned and led businesses are not only visible but are positioned to meaningfully benefit from public procurement opportunities,” she remarked.
SWEEAP represents a growing recognition that inclusive procurement is not merely a matter of policy compliance, but a mechanism for broader economic transformation. By embedding gender-responsive budgeting and procurement practices, the initiative aims to create more equitable access to public contracting, strengthen institutional capacity, and expand economic opportunities for women across Nigeria.
