Lagos, UN collaborate to empower women-owned businesses

The Lagos Condition General public Procurement Agency has collaborated with the United Country Gals to practice Girls-owned organizations to enable them advantage from general public procurement options in the Condition.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the three-day education functionality, the Director-General, Lagos State Community Procurement Agency, Fatai Onafowote, pointed out that while girls constituted a large percent of the populace, stats indicated that most of them are economically deprived, notably in public procurement chances.

While describing the predicament as “unhealthy for societal stability’’, Onafowote said that this educated the policy of the Lagos Point out Federal government to motivate and support ladies and youth to acquire abilities and vocations which would enable them to compete favourably for accessibility to small business alternatives in the Point out.

The Director-Basic stated that as an critical auto for the supply of the enhancement Agenda of the current administration in the Condition, the Company has ongoing to organise collection of advocacy and sensitisation programmes to aid affirmative procurement in the Sate.

He extra that in collaboration with the UN Women of all ages, the Company had organised sensitisation and instruction programmes for accounting officers of Ministries, Departments and Companies, procurement specialists and women of all ages-owned enterprises with a perspective to making sure the financial empowerment of gals-owned corporations by means of alternatives in public procurement in the Condition.

Onafowote further more pointed out that the point out govt had reviewed its T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda to T.H.E.M.E.S. moreover this yr in demonstration of its want to emphasis special interest to gender equality, social inclusion and the youth and other susceptible groups in the State.

He stated the govt recognised that Small and Medium Enterprises contributed a lion’s share of the financial system of the State, incorporating that given that the sector is dominated by gals, the point out government was by now focusing awareness on spots of aid for ladies-owned businesses.

The Director-Basic also identified some of the issues dealing with ladies-owned enterprises.

These, in accordance to him, provided absence of entry to capital, sexual harassment, some damaging cultural techniques and norms, deficiency of info, amongst some others.

Onafowote also stated that the company took the adoption of Information Communication Technological innovation very severely in carrying out its procurement course of action.

Consequently, he urged gals-owned organizations to equip by themselves with the important expertise necessary for participation and benefiting from general public procurement options.

The UN Gals Deputy State Representative, Mr. Lansana Wonneh, commended the Lagos Point out Government for its support in driving the affirmative procurement initiatives in the State.

Wonneh stressed that enhanced accessibility to take part in and advantage from public procurement delivered an economically viable solution for advancing economic options and strengthening the resilience of women of all ages-owned and women of all ages-led businesses publish COVID-19 restoration.

The UN Women Deputy State Representative described that the programme – Women Economic Empowerment as a result of Affirmative Procurement- is an African Advancement Lender and UN Girls collaboration that is funded by WeFi initiative.

He extra that by way of the programme, UN Women of all ages is committed to supporting policy and authorized reform on procurement, although strengthening the capacity of each community officers and gals -owned businesses in Nigeria.

The Long lasting Secretary, Lagos Point out Ministry of Females Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Oluyemi Kalesanwo, said that the point out federal government was working tough to produce an enabling setting that fostered gender equality and inclusive financial empowerment.

She stated collaborations and partnerships could enable determine gaps, share best tactics and acquire methods to boost the inclusion of females entrepreneurs in public procurement.

Kalesanwo recommended the Lagos Point out General public Procurement Agency “for its dedication to gender equality and inclusive economic development”.

Through the coaching programme, held at R & A Metropolis Hotels, Ikeja, Lagos, participants have been qualified on a large array of matters, which includes eligibility and specifications for registration, tendering and documentation course of action, deal management and evaluation, compliance and ethics as effectively as accessing enterprise aid and funding possibilities, among other individuals.