The Scaling Women’s Economic Empowerment through Affirmative Procurement (SWEEAP) project has trained 691 women entrepreneurs on how to access and compete for government contracts, with more than 500 women-owned businesses already pursuing procurement opportunities in Kano and Rivers states.
The initiative focused on equipping women with practical knowledge of public procurement processes, compliance requirements, and competitive bidding strategies needed to participate in government contracting.
The programme was implemented by the Chevening Alumni Association of Nigeria (CAAN) in partnership with DO Take Action.
Through structured training sessions and mentorship, participants were guided on how government procurement systems work and how women-owned businesses can position themselves to successfully bid for contracts.
Speaking at the project’s close-out reception held at the British High Commissioner’s residence in Abuja, Gill Lever said the initiative is already producing measurable results.
“It is inspiring to see the impact our Chevening alumni are driving across Nigeria,” Lever said.
“Through programmes like Scaling Women’s Economic Empowerment through Affirmative Procurement (SWEEAP), supported by the Chevening Alumni Programme Fund, we are already seeing clear results: 691 beneficiaries trained and over 500 women-owned businesses now pursuing procurement opportunities in Kano and Rivers States.”
The project also aligns with broader efforts to make Nigeria’s procurement system more inclusive and accessible to smaller businesses.
Adebowale Adedokun, director-general of the Bureau of Public Procurement, said policy reforms are underway to strengthen the participation of women-owned enterprises.
Adedokun explained that proposed amendments to the Public Procurement Act would introduce measures aimed at improving access for smaller and community-based businesses.
According to him, the reforms would prioritise qualified businesses within local government areas for contracts below N15 million while also simplifying documentation requirements.
He said the changes are designed to remove entry barriers and encourage more women entrepreneurs to compete for public sector opportunities.
At the state level, Ine Briggs said the SWEEAP initiative is helping to correct long-standing gaps in the procurement system.
“This initiative is significant because it addresses a structural imbalance within the public procurement system,” Briggs said.
She noted that the Rivers state bureau has committed to integrating more women-owned businesses into its contractor database and ensuring they receive information about procurement opportunities.
Representing CAAN, Femi Adedipe said the programme demonstrates how alumni-driven initiatives can contribute to economic reform through collaboration with government and development partners.
“Through structured collaboration and stakeholder engagement, this project has built the capacity of 691 women to access procurement opportunities and contributed to inclusive economic reform,” he said.
CAAN president Kester Osahenye and DO Take Action chief executive Precious Ebere Chinonso said the project reflects ongoing efforts to expand economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs and strengthen inclusive participation in Nigeria’s public procurement system.
