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The SWEEAP Project Close-Out has officially marked the completion of a major women empowerment initiative led by the Chevening Alumni Association of Nigeria in collaboration with DO Take Action.
The high-level reception, held at the British High Commissioner’s Residence in Abuja, brought together procurement regulators, development partners, private sector leaders, women entrepreneurs, and Chevening alumni to review the achievements of the programme and discuss the future of inclusive procurement reforms in Nigeria.
The SWEEAP Project Close-Out event focused on evaluating progress made under the Scaling Women’s Economic Empowerment through Affirmative Procurement programme.
691 Women Entrepreneurs Trained Under SWEEAP
According to organisers, the SWEEAP Project Close-Out highlighted measurable outcomes recorded during implementation across Kano and Rivers States.
A total of 691 women entrepreneurs received structured training on public procurement processes, compliance standards, documentation requirements, and competitive bidding strategies.
The programme aimed to strengthen women’s participation in government contracting systems by equipping them with technical knowledge and practical skills needed to navigate public procurement frameworks effectively.
As an early impact result, three trained women entrepreneurs successfully secured public procurement contracts. Organisers attributed these contract awards directly to competencies gained through the SWEEAP training programme.
The SWEEAP Project Close-Out therefore underscored not only capacity building but also tangible economic results.
UK Government Reaffirms Support for Inclusive Growth
Delivering remarks at the SWEEAP Project Close-Out reception, the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Lever, emphasised the United Kingdom’s commitment to inclusive economic development aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.
She noted that the programme was supported through the Chevening Alumni Programme Fund and commended the progress achieved.
Lever highlighted that more than 500 women-owned businesses are now actively pursuing procurement opportunities in Kano and Rivers States following the training initiative.
Her remarks positioned the SWEEAP Project Close-Out within a broader global development framework focused on gender equality and economic participation.
Bureau of Public Procurement Signals Legal Reforms
The Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, used the SWEEAP Project Close-Out platform to reaffirm the federal government’s commitment to inclusive procurement reform.
He disclosed that amendments to the Public Procurement Act are ongoing in collaboration with the National Assembly. The reforms aim to embed structured support for women-owned businesses within Nigeria’s legal and institutional procurement framework.
According to Adedokun, contracts valued below N15 million will be prioritised for qualified local businesses within local government areas, with simplified documentation to reduce entry barriers.
He stated that these measures are designed to promote sustainability, transparency, and progressive capacity development for women-led enterprises nationwide.
Rivers State Strengthens Inclusive Procurement Framework
Also speaking at the SWEEAP Project Close-Out, the Director General of the Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement, Dr Ine Briggs, reaffirmed the state’s regulatory commitment to expanding opportunities for women-owned businesses.
She described the initiative as an important step toward correcting structural imbalances within the public procurement system.
Briggs explained that the Bureau intends to integrate more women-owned enterprises into its contractor database, actively invite their participation in bidding processes, and track measurable outcomes.
She added that continuous training, advertising of procurement opportunities, and benchmarking of best practices will help ensure women entrepreneurs in Rivers State are positioned competitively.
Alumni Leadership Drives Development Initiative
Representing the Chevening Alumni Association of Nigeria, Mr Femi Adedipe highlighted the leadership role played by alumni in driving impactful development projects.
He described the SWEEAP Project Close-Out as evidence of how structured collaboration, policy advocacy, and stakeholder engagement can strengthen women’s economic participation.
According to him, the project has contributed meaningfully to inclusive economic reform while building procurement capacity for hundreds of women entrepreneurs.
Market Access as a Tool for Economic Equity
The CEO and Co-founder of DO Take Action, Precious Ebere Chinonso-Obi, emphasised that access to markets is as crucial as access to capital for women entrepreneurs.
She explained that public procurement remains one of the government’s most powerful economic instruments and can become a driver of job creation and systemic equity when structured inclusively.
The SWEEAP Project Close-Out concluded with renewed commitments from stakeholders across government institutions, the private sector, and development partners to institutionalise inclusive procurement systems nationwide.
Broader Impact on Women Economic Empowerment in Nigeria
The SWEEAP Project Close-Out signals growing recognition that procurement reform can serve as a practical pathway for women economic empowerment in Nigeria.
By strengthening policy frameworks, enhancing institutional support, and building entrepreneurial capacity, the initiative has demonstrated a model that could be replicated in other states.
With 691 women trained and early contract successes recorded, stakeholders expressed optimism that inclusive procurement practices will continue to expand across the country.
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