BPP develops policy to boost women engineering firms in public procurement

The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) are collaborating on a new policy aimed at increasing the participation of women-owned engineering firms in public projects. During the 2026 International Conference, Exhibition and Annual General Meeting of APWEN in Abuja, BPP Director-General Adebowale Adedokun announced the development of an affirmative procurement policy.

This policy aims to promote economic inclusion, enterprise development, and broader participation in national development through public procurement. Adedokun emphasized that the policy would not involve meritless awarding of contracts but would create mechanisms to enable eligible businesses to compete fairly. APWEN President Chinyere Nnenna Igwegbe highlighted the importance of women engineers in Nigeria's infrastructure development, particularly in addressing climate change, energy transition, urbanization, and emerging technologies.

She stressed that women engineers must be at the forefront of designing adaptive systems to respond to shocks, changing demand, and a changing climate. Igwegbe called for stronger collaboration among various stakeholders to tackle infrastructure challenges effectively. Former Minister of Aviation, Babatunde Omotoba, delivered a keynote address calling for the design of infrastructure as interconnected systems capable of adapting to changing conditions.

He also stressed the importance of a realistic approach to Nigeria's energy transition, balancing environmental objectives with immediate electricity needs. Nigerian Society of Engineers President Ali Alimasuya Rabiu expressed the need for deliberate design of Nigeria's future and emphasized the critical role of women engineers in this process.