A NON-GOVERNMENTAL Organisation (NGO), Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR) in partnership with the United Nations (UN women and other development partners, recently unveiled the private sector forum on gender-responsive procurement, an initiative dedicated to advancing gender equality in the nation’s private sector.
The forum is aimed at promoting and implementing gender-responsive procurement practices, enabling private sector players to lead the change.
By bridging the gender gap in procurement, the initiative also seeks to enhance women’s economic empowerment, foster innovation, improve organisational performance, and boost market competitiveness.
Founder of WISCAR, Amina Oyagbola, said the “forum is a crucial step towards ensuring that women-owned and women-led businesses have equitable access to procurement opportunities.”
“By fostering collaboration and sharing best practices, we aim to create a more inclusive and equitable economic landscape that empowers women, drives innovation, improves organisational performance, and enhances market competitiveness and socio-economic development.”
Executive Director of Policy Innovation Centre, Dirisu Osasuyi, in her keynote address, said the business benefits of supplier diversity through the lens of gender inclusion in procurement opportunities, is not just a moral imperative or obligation, but a strategic business decision that can drive profitability and market share.
Representative of UN Women, Patience Ekechukwu, who spoke on: “Operationalising the private sector forum,” outlined steps for private sector companies to start by signing on to women empowerment principles, assessing procurement processes using the GRP assessment tool, developing a tailored action plan based on the results of the procurement assessment, and managing progress.
Ekechukwu noted that the forum is a significant step towards reducing the gender gap in procurement, fostering a more inclusive business environment, and promoting sustainable economic development in Nigeria.
By committing to gender-responsive procurement practices, Ekechukwu said the country’s private sector can drive social and economic growth, ensuring that women-owned and women-led businesses gain equitable access to procurement opportunities, thereby contributing to a more innovative and competitive market.
UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide.
WISCAR is a leading non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering and developing professional women across Nigeria. Founded with the mission to inspire and empower women to achieve their full potentials, the organisation provides a comprehensive array of programmes and initiatives designed to support women’s professional growth and leadership development.
Through mentorship, training, and advocacy, WISCAR equips women with skills, knowledge, and networks necessary to excel in their careers and contribute to the socio-economic development of Nigeria.
