The Federal Government has launched a free digital training platform to help local entrepreneurs overcome barriers to government contracting and compete for public procurement opportunities.
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The platform was unveiled on Tuesday in Abuja by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), in collaboration with the World Bank. It is designed to equip Nigeria’s estimated 39.6 million nano, micro, small and medium enterprises (NMSMEs) with skills needed to identify opportunities, prepare bids and deliver public contracts.
The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Enoh, said the initiative marked a shift from procurement policies focused mainly on compliance towards measures that enable small businesses to participate meaningfully.
He said complicated procedures, limited access to information and demanding documentation requirements had kept many qualified entrepreneurs out of government contracts.
Enoh warned that putting procurement processes online would not solve the problem if businesses lacked the knowledge to use the systems.
“Having an online platform isn’t, by itself, enough. Small businesses have to be able to actually use it and take part meaningfully,” he said.
The minister identified limited technical knowledge, weak internal systems and difficulties interpreting procurement documents as major obstacles. Some businesses lose opportunities because of incomplete paperwork or rely on middlemen.
He urged government agencies to simplify procedures, improve transparency and deliberately support women-led enterprises and other small businesses to compete fairly.
“Every woman-owned business, every small business, deserves the chance to learn the rules of the game and compete fairly,” Enoh said.
Earlier, BPP Director-General, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, said the training was intended to address knowledge and capacity gaps that had historically limited small businesses’ participation in public contracts.
He said small businesses account for about 96 per cent of enterprises in Nigeria and contribute roughly half of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but remain underrepresented in public procurement.
According to Adedokun, the platform can be accessed through smartphones, tablets and computers. Its practical modules cover identifying procurement opportunities, preparing competitive bids, understanding contract obligations and meeting government performance standards.
Adedokun said the bureau was also reviewing barriers faced by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), particularly women-owned businesses, young entrepreneurs and persons with disabilities.
However, he cautioned that completing the training would not guarantee a government contract. Contract awards, he said, would continue to follow established competitive procedures.
The Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Charles Odii, said the initiative could connect millions of businesses to one of the country’s largest and most dependable markets.
He put the number of NMSMEs at 39,654,385, saying broader participation in public procurement could boost local production, create jobs and retain more economic value within Nigeria.
Odii said the programme aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Nigeria First policy, which promotes greater participation by domestic enterprises in economic opportunities.
He added that a draft National Policy on MSMEs for 2026 to 2030, which identifies public procurement as a tool for enterprise growth and local content, was awaiting approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Matthew Verghis, said wider participation by MSMEs could strengthen competition, improve public spending and support job creation.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, urged young Nigerians to build relevant skills and prepare for procurement opportunities.
Initiative aims to help businesses understand requirements and compete independently for contracts.
The training is being rolled out under the World Bank-backed Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement Project, which seeks to strengthen procurement capacity and promote sustainable practices.
How to apply
Interested business owners should access the free digital training platform through the Bureau of Public Procurement’s official channels. The training can be completed using a smartphone, tablet or computer. Participants should follow the platform’s instructions, complete the learning modules and quizzes, and obtain their completion certificates. Training completion does not guarantee a government contract; bids must still meet requirements and undergo the established competitive process.
