The Lagos State Government has inaugurated a gender desk within the Contractor Registration Department of its Public Procurement Agency (PPA).

The Director-General of the agency, Mr Fatai Onafowote, said the move was part of efforts to empower women and foster their inclusion in public procurement processes.

Onafowote disclosed this on Tuesday in Lagos while receiving the Country Representative of UN Women to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms Beatrice Eyong, on a courtesy visit.

He said the agency had taken deliberate steps to equip women with the knowledge and tools required to thrive in the procurement space.

“The administration of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu remains committed to expanding opportunities for women in the business ecosystem.

“Even though the governor could not be here in person, this visit aligns perfectly with his vision for a more inclusive and equitable Lagos,” he said.

The director-general explained that the agency began its inclusion efforts by training sustainability officers across ministries to promote affirmative procurement, later extending support directly to women-led businesses.

He further revealed that a Gender Responsive Procurement (GRP) Technical Working Group had been constituted to develop a policy framework for inclusive procurement in the state.

“We have already drafted the policy and shared the executive summary with the governor.

“Once signed, it will institutionalise gender-responsive procurement across Lagos,” he said.

Onafowote added that the agency would host another policy dialogue in two weeks to brief stakeholders on implementation strategies and the next phase of the gender-inclusive procurement drive.

In her remarks, Eyong commended the Lagos State Government and the PPA for their progress, describing the initiatives as timely and commendable.

“I am pleased to see that Lagos is taking concrete steps toward gender equality in public procurement,” she said.

She emphasised that inclusive procurement was not only an issue of fairness but also a catalyst for broader economic development.

“When women are economically empowered, entire communities benefit. What Lagos is doing here can serve as a model for the rest of the country,” Eyong said.

Also speaking, the Head of the Contractor Registration Department, Mrs Adeola Sanwo, highlighted the agency’s practical interventions in support of women entrepreneurs.

“We have supported 50 women-led home businesses through the UN Women Ideology Programme. Ten of them are now registered on the state’s procurement portal, and five have already secured contracts.

“This is a major breakthrough. It shows that women are not just ready to compete, they can win,” she said.

Sanwo noted that many women previously believed procurement was too technical or out of their reach, but the agency was working to demystify the process.

“To address those concerns, we established a Gender Desk where women can receive direct assistance with navigating procurement procedures,” she said.

She added that the desk had become a vital resource for female entrepreneurs, offering hands-on, step-by-step support.

“If the website is confusing, they can come in person and we’ll walk them through the entire process,” she said.

The UN Women team also visited the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Rianat Onigbanjo, who reiterated the state government’s commitment to women’s empowerment across all sectors. (NAN)