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• Enoh urges simpler processes as Olawande challenges youths to prepare for business opportunities
Federal Government has launched a free digital training portal to help Nigeria’s 39.6 million micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) overcome barriers to government contracts, as the Minister of State for Industry, John Enoh, called for simpler procurement processes to enable small businesses to compete fairly.
Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, also challenged young Nigerians to prepare themselves to take advantage of business opportunities, stressing that demands for support must be matched with readiness to participate.
Enoh said complex procedures, compliance requirements and limited knowledge of procurement rules were excluding many businesses from government contracts, increasing their cost of doing business and deepening their dependence on intermediaries.
Speaking on Tuesday at the launch of the portal by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), with support from the World Bank, Enoh said putting procurement online was insufficient unless small businesses could navigate the system and participate meaningfully.
“Many businesses are excluded because of capacity constraints—limited knowledge, weak internal processes and insufficient capability,” he said.
He listed the challenges to include difficulties registering on procurement platforms, meeting compliance requirements, interpreting lengthy bidding documents, preparing competitive prices, submitting responsive bids and delivering government contracts.
The minister also warned that some businesses were disqualified because of missing documents, urging government agencies to simplify procedures, improve transparency and provide stronger support for small enterprises.
He called on business associations to publicise procurement opportunities and ensure that businesses of all sizes were adequately informed, stressing that public procurement reforms must align with gender inclusion, job creation, local content, economic policy and skills development.
Olawande, in his remarks, urged young Nigerians to complement their calls for financial and government support with the skills and preparedness needed to take advantage of available opportunities.
He said young people must be ready to participate in business rather than focus solely on demanding support, noting that the procurement initiative provided an opportunity for entrepreneurs to position themselves for government contracts.
The minister commended the collaboration among government officials behind the initiative, saying the coordination of people with shared ideas could help drive programmes designed to create opportunities for young Nigerians.
He also called on the National Orientation Agency to intensify public enlightenment, stressing the need to educate Nigerians about government initiatives and the opportunities available to them.
The portal will train entrepreneurs to identify contract opportunities, prepare competitive bids, deliver contracts and meet performance requirements.
Director-General of the BPP, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, said the initiative was designed to bridge knowledge gaps that had hindered small businesses from participating effectively in public procurement.
He said MSMEs account for approximately 96 per cent of businesses in Nigeria and contribute about 50 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), yet many struggle with procurement procedures, technical requirements and bidding processes.
The training features interactive modules, quizzes, practical examples and a certificate of completion. It is accessible through computers, tablets and smartphones, with consideration for users with limited internet access.
Adedokun stressed that completing the training would not guarantee government contracts, noting that awards must be based on competition, transparency, accountability and value for money.
He said the Bureau was also reviewing barriers to MSME participation, with particular attention to women-owned businesses, youth entrepreneurs and persons with disabilities.
Adedokun said the programme would complement efforts to strengthen procurement oversight, improve contract management and prevent abuse of public resources through collaboration with anti-corruption and accountability institutions.
The BPP urged entrepreneurs, trade groups and professional associations to promote the portal and encourage wider participation among Nigerian businesses.
Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Charles Odii, described public procurement as a major market for businesses, saying inadequate information and unfamiliarity with entry requirements had prevented many enterprises from accessing available opportunities.
Odii said the initiative aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Nigeria First Policy and could expand local businesses’ access to government spending.
He disclosed that the proposed 2026–2030 National Policy on MSMEs was awaiting Federal Executive Council approval, adding that it recognises public procurement as a pathway to enterprise growth, formalisation and local content development.
World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Matthew Verghis, said the portal could help broaden the supplier base, strengthen competition, stimulate enterprise development and create jobs.
He said the initiative’s success would depend on how widely businesses used the platform and whether the training improved their capacity to compete for contracts.
The initiative is being implemented under the World Bank-supported Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement Project.
