MEDIA WOMEN SHOULD BE GRANTED MORE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES- DG PPA IDOWU

 

BY LEO EZEKIEL

 

Speaking with Iconblazemagazineonline at Baguda Kaltho Press Centre, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, South West, Nigeria, the Director General of the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, Mr. Onafowote Fatai Idowu states that Women should be granted more business opportunities during a media forum on affirmative procurement, organised by the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency and the United Nations (UN) Women, held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa Secretariat on Friday, the Director-General of the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency. 

Mr. Idowu, states that the new initiative will help to correct the disparity between the number of men and women that have access to public procurement and to further give opportunities for other women owned businesses to participate in public procurement, which will give them the links to enjoy beneficial contracts. He noted that ”For a long time now, women-owned businesses and women-led cooperatives have faced significant challenges ranging from limited access to finance and information to capacity constraints, which have prevented them from participating fully in our state’s economic activities. 

The Director General of the Procurement Agency informed that the Agency has been training the women on series of understandings, in order to Building their capacity on the rudiments of those areas to note, and have been considered to encourage them to participate, at the same time to enable them to win progressive contracts in Lagos State. In his words, “The new policy is our commitment to dismantling those barriers and creating a more equitable and inclusive procurement environment. The objectives of this policy are to provide greater access to procurement opportunities for women, to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge, and to create a procurement environment that values and promotes gender equality.” 

He stated further in his address with Iconblazemagazineonline that the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu is so inclusive, that he is interested in leaving nobody behind, which is the reason why the State is working in partnership with the United Nations Women to ensure that the policy sit properly in the state Government THEMESPlus Agenda. 

He maintained also, that the Agency has integrated it to such an extent of opening opportunities for women owned businesses to compete both among themselves, and other Men and women Business owners. This initiative is basically designed to equipping them and building their capacity in order to ensure that they have an improvement over and above what they currently have in the state. 

He said. Saying also, that he is very sure that the competition the state has designed to have in the proper ways, will give rooms to women to be adequately empowered, and as well will enable them to contribute to the economic development. He informed, that appropriate links are available to engage the women in the state, for the Procurement Agency is going to open a Desk office soon where they will be able to bring their issues and challenges in that areas, to get further solutions and feedbacks. 

He added, that the Agency has remained committed to make it conducive for all, that the Agency is now preparing a document which the Governor will sign, and operationalise it to encourage women have an enabling environment to participate actively. The forum is actually interactive, that the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, described the new initiative as a good one that will allow more women to bid for contracts. 

In his words, he said, “Today, we moved a step further in our affirmative procurement strategy and action plan for women in Lagos State. Empirical data has shown from the Agency's file sheet, that 80 percent of men secure government contracts against women, which at the moment stands at 20 percent. “This wide gulf should be closed by all means necessary. 

This is why the Lagos State Government and her Public Procurement Agency are in partnership with the UNWomen to achieve a 40 to 60 percent ratio. It is one step at a time, and soon they would get there. In his words again, he said “Our women need more economic empowerment averring that this is the vision of the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who believes in the ability of women to do great things if and when given an opportunity. Again in his words, “I believe there should be more women in whatever we do. Women need to be empowered, and in the nearest future, we will see a female president or governor in Nigeria.” 

The Head of Contractor Registration Department of the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, Ms. Adeola Sanwo, buttressed, that a survey has revealed, that out of 100 successful contract biddings, 80 percent are men while only 20 percent are women. 

She therefore appealed for an executive order by Governor Sanwo-Olu, to make the implementation of the policy mandatory for all ministries and agencies in Lagos State. Sanwo said, a viable platform should be created for more women to benefit from the government’s procurement, adding that women should be encouraged to take part in the procurement process. 

She appreciated the United Nations Women, for their support and collaboration with the Lagos State Government in championing gender equality and the empowerment of women. In his address, the Facilitator on Media Intervention And Affirmative Procurement /Head of Communication, UN Women, Mr. Anthony Abu did speak deeply on Gender culture belief in Nigeria and the possible ways to question and correct it appropriately averring that reports have actually gathered from the Banks, and showed how the women have had high rates of returning Loans which they had collected.  He adds that Women have been well recognised that they have cooperate integrity to execute whatever projects or contracts they are so well given at any time. 

He thereby goads the media, to change the narratives against women and influence policy action that favours them in all ramifications. In his conclusion, he submits that the media should use it's power to change the narratives through their writings and timely reports on issues relating to women’s empowerment, development, inclusion et’al.