More than 200 women entrepreneurs from 11 Nigerian states have completed a procurement readiness programme designed to equip women-owned businesses with the knowledge and skills required to compete for institutional contracts.

The initiative, organised by eHealth Africa (eHA) in partnership with EHA Impact Ventures (EIV), trained 213 entrepreneurs through the Women Vendor Accelerator Programme, which focused on helping participants meet the compliance, governance and business standards expected by large organisations.

The programme comes as women-owned businesses across Africa continue to face challenges in accessing procurement opportunities, including limited knowledge of tender processes, inadequate business support, weak professional networks and restricted access to finance.

Held on June 17 in a hybrid format, the training brought together participants from Kano, Abuja, Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Bauchi and Niger states.

Sessions covered vendor registration, procurement procedures, business formalisation, ethical business practices and strategies for securing institutional contracts. Participants also interacted directly with procurement professionals to gain practical insights into supplier expectations and application requirements.

Speaking during the programme, eHealth Africa’s Director of Finance and Administration, Dr. Ben Igbinosa, said empowering women entrepreneurs requires deliberate efforts to remove barriers that limit their participation in formal supply chains.

“Empowering women entrepreneurs requires more than good intentions; it requires deliberate action, equitable access and intentional investment in their capacity to compete,” he said.

According to him, the organisation is committed to expanding opportunities for women-owned businesses within its procurement processes and supplier network.

Senior Coordinator for Executive Project Support at EHA Impact Ventures, Ramatu Abdullah, described the programme as part of a broader strategy to strengthen women-led enterprises beyond access to finance.

She said participants would also benefit from mentorship, business networks, market opportunities and financing support aimed at helping them become competitive suppliers.

One of the beneficiaries, Sumayyah Muhammad, founder of Skin Whispers NG, said the training had improved her understanding of institutional procurement and how to position her business for larger contract opportunities.

The Women Vendor Accelerator Programme was launched following a directive by the eHealth Africa Group Board to expand opportunities for women-owned businesses within the organisation’s supply chain.

Participants were introduced to procurement opportunities available across eHealth Africa, EHA Clinics and EHA Impact Ventures.

Organisers said the initiative represents the first phase of a longer-term programme that will provide participants with additional support through vendor matching opportunities, guidance on procurement compliance and improved access to financing.

eHealth Africa has operated across Africa for more than 15 years, working with governments and development partners to implement digital health and data-driven programmes in 26 countries.