The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has launched a free digital training portal to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) enhance their capability to compete for government contracts in Nigeria.
The portal, unveiled in Abuja on Tuesday by the BPP Director-General, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, is designed to tackle data gaps, technical limitations and difficulties understanding bidding necessities that forestall small businesses from taking part successfully in public procurement.
The initiative supplies interactive studying modules, quizzes, sensible examples and a certificates of completion to information businesses via the government procurement course of, from figuring out contract alternatives and making ready bids to contract supply and efficiency administration.
According to the BPP, the platform is accessible via computer systems, tablets and smartphones and has been optimised for customers with restricted web bandwidth.
Portal targets obstacles to government contracts
Speaking on the launch, Adedokun mentioned the initiative represented one other step within the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen procurement capability and develop alternatives for Nigerian businesses.
- “This includes identifying contract opportunities and preparing bids to contract delivery and performance management,” he mentioned.
- He mentioned the portal would supply sensible studying assets tailor-made to Nigeria’s procurement atmosphere, serving to MSMEs perceive the necessities for taking part in government contracting.
Adedokun famous that MSMEs accounted for about 96% of businesses in Nigeria and contributed about 50% of the nation’s gross home product (GDP).
Despite their contribution to the economic system, he mentioned many small businesses continued to face obstacles to securing public contracts, together with insufficient data of procurement procedures, restricted technical capability and difficulties decoding bidding necessities.
The training programme is meant to help businesses overcome these challenges and enhance their readiness to compete for procurement alternatives.
BPP opinions procurement obstacles for small businesses
Adedokun mentioned the bureau was additionally reviewing current obstacles to MSME participation in public procurement following President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the institution of community-based procurement and affirmative procurement initiatives.
He mentioned the assessment was geared toward making a extra inclusive and accessible procurement atmosphere for small businesses throughout the nation.
- The director-general added that the training programme positioned specific emphasis on women-owned and women-led businesses, youth entrepreneurs, individuals with disabilities and veterans, who typically face extra obstacles to accessing public procurement markets.
- He expressed optimism that the initiative would scale back data gaps, strengthen enterprise competitiveness and promote professionalism amongst MSMEs looking for government contracts.
- However, Adedokun clarified that finishing the training wouldn’t assure the award of a government contract, noting that procurement remained topic to competitors, transparency, accountability and value-for-money necessities.
- He urged MSMEs nationwide to benefit from the free training and inspired enterprise homeowners, entrepreneurs, skilled associations, commerce teams and private-sector establishments to promote consciousness of the portal.
The training programme was developed with help from the World Bank underneath the Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement Project (SPESSE).
BPP expands entry to public contracts
The launch of the procurement training portal comes amid wider efforts to develop small businesses’ entry to government contracts and strengthen the position of native enterprises in public spending.
In May 2025, Nairametrics reported that the BPP, in partnership with the World Bank underneath the SPESSE challenge, had launched the Nigeria Procurement Certification Portal. The platform supplies training, evaluation and certification for procurement professionals, complementing the bureau’s wider efforts to strengthen procurement capability.
