UN Women, Lagos join forces to empower Women through Public Procurement

A delegation from UN Women, led by Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, has paid a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency to deepen collaboration on advancing gender-responsive procurement practices.

Welcomed by the Director-General of the Agency, Mr. Fatai Idowu Onafowote, and senior officials, the high-level visit aimed to reinforce joint efforts in empowering women-led businesses and promoting inclusive economic growth in Lagos State.

In his remarks, Onafowote expressed gratitude for the growing partnership, reaffirming the Lagos State Government’s commitment to gender equality under the THEMES+ development agenda.

“Our goal is to ensure that women are not only included but fully empowered to thrive in the economy,” he stated.

“Our work with UN Women enhances our ability to achieve this and supports a more inclusive procurement system,” he added.

Ms. Adeola Sanwo, UN Women Focal Person, highlighted the affirmative procurement initiative currently underway in Lagos.

She noted that the programme, Women’s Economic Empowerment through Affirmative Procurement in Nigeria, supported by the African Development Bank, is building the capacity of women-led enterprises and enhancing institutional responsiveness to gender inclusion in procurement.

According to Sanwo, the programme aligned closely with the THEMES+ agenda’s pillars of gender equality, social inclusion, and youth empowerment, positioning Lagos as a leading example of inclusive governance.

Speaking, Ms. Eyong commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for prioritising gender equality and tackling gender-based violence, and also applauded First Lady Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu’s strong advocacy for women’s empowerment.

“Public procurement is not just a financial process—it’s a strategic tool for achieving gender equality,” Eyong said.

“Ensuring fair access to procurement opportunities for women-owned businesses helps bridge the gender gap and fuels inclusive development,” she added.

She also expressed optimism that the affirmative procurement policy and the Executive Order on Gender-Responsive Procurement would soon receive gubernatorial assent, cementing Lagos State’s leadership in gender-inclusive reforms.

Speaking on behalf of the state government, Mrs. Bola Adeniran, Director of Monitoring, Enforcement, and Compliance, thanked the UN Women team for their sustained support in promoting both formative and transformative procurement strategies.

She noted that the State Government remains committed to increasing women’s participation in public procurement through continuous advocacy, capacity building, and institutional reforms.

“We value this collaboration and will continue working with the UN Women to mainstream gender inclusion across our procurement processes,” she said.

As a major highlight of the visit, Eyong officially inaugurated the newly established Gender Desk Office within the Procurement Agency.

The office is set to serve as a hub for guiding women entrepreneurs through registration and participation in public procurement, further strengthening their access to economic opportunities in Lagos State.