The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, has inaugurated a Steering Committee, to give bite to the objectives of the launched ‘Women’s Economic Empowerment through Affirmative Procurement in Nigeria’ Project.
According to a statement signed by the press director, Olujimi Oyetomi, the terms of reference for the inaugurated Committee are to ensure that the objective of the Project is met, support the institutional reforms to improve women-owned access to public procurement and further support the development of gender-responsive procurement initiatives as part of the COVID-19 response strategies.
“This objective is with a realization that economic empowerment for women entrepreneurs through enhanced access to public and private procurement opportunities will create market opportunities that have long been recognized as an engine of growth for small and medium enterprises.
“Enhancing access to public procurement opportunities for women entrepreneurs has the potential for improving women’s economic participation, which is a requisite propagator of inclusive economic growth and National Development”.
The Committee which is led by the Women Affairs Minister as the Chairperson, has 13 other members to operate on pilot basis in Lagos and Kaduna States.
Secretary – Rep. UN Deputy Country Representatives in Nigeria-Mr. Lasana Wonneh, Rep. Ministry of Women Affairs, Christiana Oliko, Rep. African Development Bank (AfDB), Rep. UN Women Country Representative-Ms. Beatrice Eyong, Rep Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Safia Abu (Head, Gender Based Devt. & Finance), Rep. Lagos State Women Affairs & poverty Alleviation, Kolasanwo Oluyemi, Rep Kaduna State Ministry Human Services & Social Development, Rep. of National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)-Mr. Adebowale Adedokun-Director, Training & Capacity Development.
Others are: Rep. Director General, Kaduna State Public Procurement Agency- Engr. Sanusi Adamu Yero, Rep. Director General, Lagos State Public Procurement Agency – Mr. Onawofote Fatai Idowu, Rep. NACCIMA Business Women Group-Fmr. Minister of Women Affairs. & NACCIMA Chairperson-Hajia Aisha Abubakar, Rep. Association of Nigeria Business Women Network, Modupe Oyekunle (National Coordinator), Rep. Women In Management & In Business. Mrs. Asatu Adebimpe Adegbite (Exec. Director), Rep. Women In Successful Career- Exec. Director) Fabian Ogunmekan, Rep. Joint Nat. Association of Persons with Disabilities (Women Wing)-Mrs. Betrice Mume.