The Rivers State Government has pledged to promote the participation of female entrepreneurs in public procurement by instituting reforms aimed at boosting efficiency, transparency, and accountability.
The State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, made this pledge, at a two-day High-Level Stakeholders’ Forum on Strengthening Public and Private Sector Collaboration for Gender-Responsive Procurement.
The event brought together participants from the public and private sectors, community groups, women entrepreneurs, and key bureaucratic institutions to examine gaps in the current procurement framework.
Represented by the Head of Service, Dr. Inyingi S. I. Brown, the Governor emphasized that procurement is a powerful economic tool that determines access to real opportunities and shapes inclusive participation.
He acknowledged the urgent need for a gender-balanced procurement system, noting that women-owned enterprises contribute significantly to the national economy and deserve equitable access to public contracts.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of “Do Take Action”, and convener of the forum, Mrs. Precious Ebere Chinonso-Obi, lamented that despite forming a major percentage of the population, women still face cultural and statutory obstacles that prevent them from competing fairly in public procurement.
She called for urgent reforms to level the playing field and unlock opportunities for women across all sectors.
Mrs. Chinonso-Obi criticized cultural practices in some parts of Nigeria that hinder female entrepreneurs from fully participating in procurement processes, describing them as “barbaric” and detrimental to national development.
She urged women to rise against underrepresentation and advocate for the implementation of the 30% affirmative action in public procurement as a means of correcting systemic imbalances.
The two-day programme featured paper presentations and a panel discussion.
A key highlight of the event was an award ceremony where outstanding trainees and resource persons were recognized for their exceptional contributions.
- Godam is the Information and Public Relations Officer, Office of the Head of Service.