WorldStage— The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has unveiled the Medium and Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Public Procurement Training Programme and Digital Learning Portal.
The portal is aimed at addressing challenges preventing Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from effectively participating in public procurement opportunities in Nigeria.
Speaking while unveiling the portal in Abuja on Tuesday, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, Director-General, BPP, said the initiative represented another milestone in the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening procurement capacity and expanding opportunities for Nigerian businesses.
Adedokun said the portal was designed to bridge knowledge gaps, improve business readiness and equip MSMEs with practical skills to navigate government procurement processes.
“This includes identifying contract opportunities and preparing bids to contract delivery and performance management,” he said.
Adedokun noted that MSMEs accounted for approximately 96 per cent of businesses in Nigeria and contributed 50 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“In spite of their significant contribution to the economy, many small businesses continue to face barriers to participating successfully in public procurement.
“This includes inadequate knowledge of procurement procedures, limited technical capacity and difficulties understanding bidding requirements,” he said.
He said that the digital portal was developed to address these challenges by providing practical, accessible and free learning resources tailored to Nigeria’s procurement environment.
“The training platform features interactive modules, quizzes, practical examples and a certificate of completion, with content designed to guide participants through the entire government procurement cycle,” he said.
The BPP boss said that the portal could be accessed through computers, tablets and smartphones and was optimised to accommodate users with limited internet bandwidth.
He said that sound procurement planning, legally enforceable contractual agreements and effective contract management remained essential safeguards for ensuring value for money, accountability and the successful delivery of government projects.
He said the initiative placed particular emphasis on inclusiveness by supporting women-owned and women-led businesses, youth entrepreneurs, persons with disabilities and veterans, who often face additional barriers to accessing public procurement markets.
According to him, the bureau is also reviewing existing barriers to MSME participation in public procurement following the President’s approval for the establishment of community-based procurement and affirmative procurement initiatives.
He said that the review was aimed at creating a more inclusive, accessible and enabling procurement environment for small businesses across the country.
Adedokun expressed optimism that the training programme would reduce information gaps, strengthen business competitiveness and promote professionalism among MSMEs seeking to participate in government procurement.
He, however, said that completing the training would not guarantee the award of government contracts, noting that the procurement system remained governed by the principles of competition, transparency, accountability and value for money.
He urged MSMEs nationwide to take advantage of the free training opportunity to improve their capacity and prepare for responsible participation in public procurement.
The director-general also called on business owners, entrepreneurs, professional associations, trade groups and private-sector institutions to raise awareness about the portal and encourage their members to participate in the training.
He further emphasised the importance of collaboration among government institutions, the private sector, development partners and accountability agencies in strengthening public procurement.
He reiterated the bureau’s commitment to promoting value for money and delivering tangible benefits to Nigerians through an efficient, transparent and inclusive procurement system.
Adedokun expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his support for initiatives promoting institutional excellence, enterprise development and capacity building.
The initiative was developed with support from the World Bank under the Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement Project
