Beyond policy commitments, the Key Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum – Gender on the Tender for Women’s Economic Empowerment has placed strong emphasis on financial access, enterprise sustainability and the practical realities facing women entrepreneurs in Nigeria’s construction and allied sectors.

Held on February 26, 2026, at NECA House, Ikeja, Lagos, and convened by the Inter-Bau Foundation for Women and Youths, the forum drew participation from the Federal Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Bank of Industry, Fidelity Bank, SMEDAN, MAN, LCCI, LASBCA, CSOs, Women in Successful Careers, International Women Society and other institutional stakeholders.

Delivering the keynote address, Director-General of BPP, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, described the reform as a systemic shift that would dismantle long-standing barriers and open digital access to public contracts for women and other priority groups.

“There will be no need to know someone high up to access an opportunity. The entire process will be carried out online, from the comfort of one’s home,” he stated.

Also addressing the forum, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, positioned affirmative procurement as a driver of economic expansion rather than a social intervention.

“When women-owned businesses are given fair opportunity to compete, the entire economy benefits,” she said.

Representing the international development community, Consul General of Switzerland, Camelia Camenzind, commended Inter-Bau Foundation for advancing advocacy at a pivotal moment for Nigeria and described inclusive procurement as a powerful tool for equitable economic growth.

First Secretary and Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy, Dr. Karin Jansen, emphasised the importance of sustained collaboration in translating policy commitments into measurable outcomes for women and youth.

From the financial sector, Olamide Oshodi of the Bank of Industry explained how the institution has established a dedicated gender business desk to address financing gaps, while Head of Women Banking at Fidelity Bank, Harriba Harry-Pepple, highlighted initiatives aimed at equipping women entrepreneurs with the financial knowledge and tools required to compete effectively.

Representing GIZ, Helen Igboka, Programme Component Manager, SKYE II, noted that procurement institutions hold economic influence beyond administrative oversight and can stimulate enterprise growth when designed with inclusion at their core.

Panel discussions featured female experts from banking, construction and finance sectors, who called for transparency in bidding processes and expanded access to procurement information. They emphasised that financial literacy, compliance awareness and digital readiness are critical components of sustainable inclusion.

In her opening address, CEO of Inter-Bau Foundation, Doris Okechukwu Mbadiwe, framed inclusive procurement as a structural correction to unlock productivity within Nigeria’s construction value chain.

“This is about building systems that reflect competence and capacity. Women have demonstrated expertise across sectors. What is required is structured access and opportunity,” she said.

Speakers noted that nearly 15 per cent of Nigerians live with disabilities, highlighting the need for deliberate inclusion of underrepresented groups.

As the country prepares its first major affirmative procurement reform in over a decade, participants expressed optimism that the policy would bridge gaps between enterprise potential and institutional opportunity.

The forum concluded with renewed calls for collaboration among regulators, financial institutions and private sector leaders to ensure that reform translates into measurable enterprise growth.

Through advocacy and multi-sector dialogue, Inter-Bau Foundation has positioned Gender on the Tender as a catalyst for structural reform, signalling that inclusive procurement, backed by financial empowerment and institutional transparency, can reshape participation within Nigeria’s construction economy for the long term.