How Gender-Responsive Procurement Is Changing the Game for Nigerian Women
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In every market stall, home-based enterprise, and sunlit farm across Nigeria, women are working—not just to survive, but to build, provide, and lift entire communities. Yet despite their relentless efforts, Nigerian women remain largely excluded from one of the country’s most powerful economic levers: government procurement.
In a historic stride toward inclusive development, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State recently signed into law the Gender-Responsive Procurement Policy—a bold, structural reform that recognizes what economists have long confirmed: empowering women economically isn’t charity—it’s smart policy.
The Procurement Gap: Where Are the Women?
Public procurement is big business. In Nigeria, it accounts for up to 15% of the national GDP. Yet less than 15% of public contracts go to women-owned businesses—despite women making up nearly half the population and a significant share of Nigeria’s entrepreneurial force. Systemic barriers such as limited access to capital, low visibility in supply chains, and complex bid processes have long kept women on the sidelines.
Kaduna’s new policy aims to change that. And it’s doing so as part of a broader movement across West Africa.
A Regional Reform, A Local Breakthrough
The Kaduna State legislation is a flagship outcome of the Affirmative Action Procurement Reform Initiative, a regional program led by UN Women with funding from the African Development Bank’s AFAWA initiative and the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi). The initiative spans Nigeria, Senegal, Mali, and Côte d’Ivoire and aims to reshape procurement systems to be more inclusive of women-led businesses.
In Nigeria alone, the program has delivered strong results:
- 659 women-led businesses have secured new procurement contracts, thanks to targeted technical training and coaching.
- Over 1,700 women entrepreneurs have received support in areas such as bid preparation, digital marketing, and financial management.
- 245 businesses are now registered on international platforms like the UN Global Marketplace.
Kaduna’s groundbreaking legislation, which mandates that 5–20% of public contracts be awarded to women-owned enterprises, is now being held up as a model for replication across the country and region.
What the Gender-Responsive Procurement Policy Delivers
Kaduna’s policy reserves a portion of public contracts for women-owned and women-led businesses, waives registration fees for fully women-owned enterprises, cuts tender fees by 50% for women entrepreneurs, and mandates female representation on procurement boards. These measures aren’t symbolic—they’re systemic.
“When women win contracts, they don’t just build wealth—they build communities,”
— Halima, a young entrepreneur in Zaria
This policy sends a clear message: your business is valid, your voice is needed, your success matters.
The Data Doesn’t Lie: When Women Rise, Nations Prosper
Studies show that women reinvest up to 90% of their income back into their families and communities—compared to 30–40% for men. They create jobs, boost household welfare, and catalyze intergenerational change. Yet in Nigeria, women receive just 3% of formal credit, and most operate in the informal sector, excluded from high-value opportunities like public procurement.
Policies like Kaduna’s—and the wider West African initiative—don’t just encourage participation; they actively enable it.
The Kaduna Model: A Blueprint for Inclusive Growth
While countries like Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa have already adopted gender-inclusive procurement strategies with notable success, Kaduna’s model stands out for its multi-stakeholder approach. It aligns with goals in education, governance, and entrepreneurship, and leverages collaboration with development partners, civil society, and the private sector.
If scaled nationwide, similar policies could unlock billions of naira in untapped economic potential—while advancing gender equality at scale.
This Is the Moment
Governor Uba Sani’s leadership reflects a growing recognition across West Africa: economic inclusion doesn’t happen by accident—it happens by design. Gender-responsive procurement is not just progressive—it’s practical. And as more women gain access to the procurement pipeline, they’re not only transforming their lives—they’re reshaping Nigeria’s economic future.